^OFPm,L 
 
 AUG 21 1997 
 
 A 
 
 ^LOGICAL Sl^^> 
 
CELEBRATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Two Hundred and Twenty-Fifth 
 Anniversary 
 
 V 
 
 OF THE 
 
 First Presbyterian Church 
 
 WOODBRIDGE, N.J. 
 
 May 27, 30 and 3 1, 
 
 1 900. 
 
 of ntiKCf) 
 
 JUN 20 1997 
 
Errata. 
 
 Page 26— Wm. H. Cutter, in place of Wm. H. 
 Cutler. 
 
 Page 32— Ago, in place of Agone. 
 
1803 
 
1 !» XI. 
 
Anniversary Celebration. 
 
 At a meeting of the session and representatives of the Board of 
 Trustees and the Ladies' Aid Society, held March 5, 1900, it was resolved 
 to observe the Two Hundred and Twenty- Fifth Anniversary of our 
 Church. The following named persons were appointed : 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
 
 Rev. Joseph M. McNulty, D.D., Pastor. 
 
 Isaac S. Payne. 
 
 W. H. Brown. 
 
 James P. Prall. 
 
 Marcus A. Brown. 
 
 T. Harvey Morris. 
 
 William Edgar. 
 
 Howard A. Tappen. 
 
 Thomas C. Brown. 
 
 Mrs. J. M. McNulty. 
 
 Miss S. Anna Cutter. 
 
 Mrs. J. F. Clarkson. 
 
 Mrs. M. A. Brown. 
 
 Mrs. William Edgar. 
 
 Mrs. James P. Prall. 
 
 Miss Anna Coddington. 
 
 It was resolved that the Exercises should beheld on May 27th, 30th 
 and 31st, 1900, and should consist of: 
 
 ( 1 . ) A commemorative sermon by the Pastor. 
 
 (2.) The Eighty-Second Anniversary of the Sabbath- School. 
 
 (3. ) Words from affiliated churches and an address by Rev. David 
 R. Frazer, D.D. , Pastor First Presbyterian Church, Newark, N. J. 
 
 (4. ) " The Mid- Week meeting in Church History. ' ' 
 
 (5.) A Banquet, on Thursday evening, under the direction of the 
 ladies of the church. 
 
 The decoration of the church consisted of Palms arranged on the 
 pulpit and organ. The 1675 and 1900, in gilt, appeared on each side of 
 the platform, the flags of England and the United States were suspended 
 between them. The following was the programme of the Sunday and 
 Wednesday evening services : 
 
PROGRAMME. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 SUNDAY MORNING AT HALF-PAST TEN. 
 
 Organ Prelude. 
 
 Doxology, followed by Invocation. 
 
 Commandments. 
 
 Hymn 1060. Scripture Reading. 
 
 Prayer - Rev. E. Morris Fergussox. 
 
 Anthem. 
 
 Reception of the New Communion Service. 
 
 Hymn 95S. Notices and Offering. 
 
 Commemorative Sermon. 
 
 Prayer. Hymn 1067. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 *t* 
 
 SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT HALF-PAST TWO. 
 
 Eighty-Second Anniversary of the Sunday School. 
 
 I. 
 
 Hymn 
 
 - 
 
 2. 
 
 Hymn 
 
 - 
 
 3- 
 
 Hymn 
 
 - 
 
 4- 
 
 Hymn 
 
 - 
 
 5- 
 
 Prayer 
 
 - 
 
 6. 
 
 Anthem 
 
 - 
 
 7- 
 
 Scripture 
 
 - 
 
 8. 
 
 Report - 
 
 - 
 
 9- 
 
 Hymn 
 
 - 
 
 10. 
 
 Review- 
 
 - 
 
 1 1. 
 
 Primary H\ 
 
 •ran 
 
 12. 
 
 Offering 
 
 - 
 
 13. 
 
 Hymn by J 
 
 uniors 
 
 14. 
 
 Address 
 
 - 
 
 15. 
 
 Hymn 
 
 - 
 
 16. 
 
 Prayer 
 
 - 
 
 17. 
 
 Hymn 
 
 - 
 
 iS. 
 
 Prayer 
 
 - 
 
 19. 
 
 Hymn 
 
 - 
 
 " Hallelujah, 'tis done " 
 
 ' ' Rejoice and be glad " 
 
 What a friend we have in Jesus " 
 
 " Sweet Hour of Prayer" 
 
 By the Pastor 
 
 Choir 
 
 Deut. vi : 1-9 and 20, 23 
 
 By the Secretary 
 
 '•Hold the Fort" 
 
 School for S2 Years 
 
 •'Jesus Loves Me" 
 
 What Shall the Children Bring?" 
 
 Rev. E. Morris Fergusson 
 
 "What Shall the Harvest Be ? " 
 
 ' ' Gates Ajar ' ' 
 
 •• Sweet Bye and Bye " 
 
 Benediction. 
 6 
 
SABBATH EVENING, MAY 27th, AT HALF-PAST SEVEN. 
 
 Pastor Presiding. Union Service. 
 
 Anthem. 
 
 Hymn 771. Scripture Reading. Prayer 
 
 Anthem. Hymn 1057. 
 
 Notices and Offering. Letters of Regret. 
 
 Words from Affiliated Churches. 
 
 Metuchen and Carteret. 
 
 Episcopal. Congregational and Methodist. 
 
 Address - Rev. David R. Frazer, D.D. 
 
 Anthem. 
 
 Response from Princeton University. Hymn 1049. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 4? 
 
 WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 30th, AT HALF-PAST SEVEN. 
 
 The Pastor Presiding. Union Service. 
 
 SUBJECT : "The Mid- Week Meeting in Church History ." 
 
 Devotional Introduction of Prayer and Song. 
 
 First Presentation. 
 
 The True Character of the Mid- Week Meeting and its 
 Relation to the Church. 
 
 Rev. Harlan G. Mendenhall, D.D. 
 Second Presentation. 
 
 The Best Method of Conducting a Mid-Week Meeting 
 
 Now, and How Our Fathers Did It. 
 
 Rev, John Kerr. 
 Third Presentation. 
 
 The Worth of Prayer in the History of a Church. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Liggett. 
 
 Prayer and Song interspersed. 
 
 The Banquet was held on Thursday evening in the church parlors ; 
 the rooms were handsomely decorated with palms and the National 
 colors. Two hundred and fifty guests sat down to tables arranged 
 about the rooms, and were served by the young ladies of the church, 
 after which the following programme was enjoyed : 
 
BANQUET. 
 
 i . The Day We Celebrate. 
 
 The Days of An Id Lang Syne. 
 
 Rev. J. M. McNulty, D. D. 
 
 2. The Presbytery of Elizabeth. 
 
 Bearing the burden and heat of the day. 
 
 Rev. J. A. Blauvelt, D. D. 
 
 3. Our Affiliated Churches. 
 
 Beloved in the Lord. 
 Rev. J. D. Mason, D. D., Rev. T. C. Miller, Rev. Ernest Brown, 
 Rev. E. N. Crasto, Rev. S. B. Rathbun. 
 
 4. Some Founders of the Church. 
 
 They Bnilded Better Than They Knezv. 
 
 Marcus A. Brown. 
 
 5. .Some Revolutionary Heroes of the Church. 
 
 Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might . 
 
 Ellis B. Freeniau. 
 
 6. The Elders of the Past. 
 
 By Faith the Elders obtained a good report. 
 
 William Edgar. 
 
 7. The Pastors of the Church. 
 
 Leaders of the Sacramental Hosts. 
 
 T. Harvey Morris. 
 
 8. The Women of the Church. 
 
 Help those women who laboured with me in the Gospel. 
 
 Mrs. Joel Melick. 
 
 9. Our Visitors. 
 
 A cloud of witnesses. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Steuchell. 
 
JOS. M. McXULTY, D.D. 
 
 COMMEMORATIVE SERMON. 
 
 B V REV . J. M. McXULTY, D.D. 
 
 "Lord thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations." 
 
 Psalm 90: 1 . 
 " We have heard with our ears, O GocT, our fathers have told us, 
 what work thou didst in their days in the times of old. " Psalm 44: 1 . 
 
 The writers of these two magnificent Psalms, Moses and possibly 
 David, were men, the mention of whose names were enough, to arrest 
 instant attention — Poets, Prophets, Statesmen men of God, both of them, 
 standing not in one of the habitations of the land of Goshen, nor walk- 
 ing the c u'ridors of Pharoh's palace, did Moses utter the sublime decla- 
 ration; ' ' Eord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations, ' ' 
 but in the wilderness, perhaps from the summit of some hill as his eye 
 "with a fine frenzy rolling" swept the great national procession of 
 Israel's tribes pitching their tents or taking them up in their journeying 
 toward the promised land. His mind momentarily glancing back over 
 the terrible slavery of Egypt and then the travel-years of the desert 
 instantly murmured "alas! alas! they have no continuing city any- 
 where, " yet he bethought himself at once, as the next moment he lifted 
 his eye to heaven and exclaimed: l ' Lord thou hast been our dwelling- 
 place in all generations. ' ' 
 
This same prayerful soliloquy is a comfort an inspiration for the 
 church of all time; and with the years of the church' s past crowding 
 about us to-da3' we appropriate it to ourselves. And so beside it we 
 quote the reminiscent language of the other Psalm as we suffer our 
 minds to travel back over these two hundred and twenty-five years of 
 the past : ' ' We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told 
 us, what work thou didst in their days in the times of old." 
 
 ' ' Xo good deed dies , ' ' says Canon Farrar, ' ' be it a rejoicing river, 
 be it but a tiny rill of human nobleness, yet, so it be pure and clean, 
 never has it been lost in the poisonous marshes or choked in the muddy 
 sands. It flows inevitably into that great river of the water of life which 
 is not lost, save — if that be to be lost — in the infinite of God's eternal 
 love. If we fail at times to see this truth in the little facts of our own 
 lives, let us look beyond them and see it unite large upon the history of 
 nations, ' ' and we may add, on the history of the church, as intimated 
 by David. " What would a man know of the sea by standing but an 
 hour or two beside its waters in some small bay ? Could he suppose 
 that there was anything but idle chance in its little eddies or sweeping 
 currents amid the windings of the shore, as it is fretted by chance puffs 
 of wind, or sways over great beds of seaweed, or is torn by protruding 
 rocks ? But let him study the phenomena of the whole great deep 
 itself, and then he w T ill learn with what magnificent and unerring regu- 
 larity the moon sways the tidal march of those mighty waters which, as 
 they roll onwards, majestic and irresistible, whether in ebb or flow, 
 refresh and purify the world. Nor is it otherwise with history — espec- 
 ially in long melleniums of it. ' ' 
 
 The sweep of our thought to-day passes over 225 years, but we 
 shall find ample occupation in limiting it in the main to the last one 
 hundred years, or the life time, almost, of the present venerable church 
 edifice. These national and municipal and ecclesiastical commemora- 
 tions and anniversaries occuring so frequently just now, are calculated 
 to be eminently useful in preserving the history of beginnings, awaken- 
 ing a proper pride in our ancestry and their work, and creating friendly 
 and united sentiment. It were not inappropriate at such a time as this 
 that our minds should travel a little for a moment out beyond the bound- 
 aries of the mere individual congregation at whose history we are looking. 
 We are but a little part of the great Presbyterian body, and we think 
 with pride of the magnificent part the Presbyterian denomination has 
 acted on the stage of this country' s history. It has had a glorious past, and 
 we believe a still more glorious future awaits it if its membership is true 
 to its principles both of doctrine and government. A committee appointed 
 to report to the General Assembly of this year, now in session, some 
 
 10 
 
suitable recognition of the ushering in of the twentieth century describes 
 the progress of our own branch of the church as very remarkable. l ' Our 
 own Presbyterian Church," they say, " has increased during the century, 
 from twenty thousand to one million communicants, and more than two 
 million two hundred thousand persons have been received into our con- 
 gregations on confession of faith in the course of the one hundred years. 
 In the great Missionary advance of the century, both in the home and 
 foreign field, our missionaries have been in the van, and the church was 
 so blessed of God that she could give during the period to the work of 
 saving souls, through the Board of Home Missions $21,154,867, and 
 through the Board of Foreign Missions $25, 150,806. The total of the 
 Missionary and Benevolent contributions of the church from 1801 to 
 1900 exceeded $87,000,000." 
 
 Historians, such as Bancroft, have told us that the first organized 
 demand for independence in this country came from Presbyterians, and 
 that John Calvin was the real father of modern free schools. We have 
 been informed that so large is and has been the number of Presbyterian 
 men in prominent public places as Judges, Governors, Senators and 
 Presidents that one is surprised who learns for the first time that the 
 Presbyterian Church is not the largest church in the country. We are 
 informed that the American Bible Society, the American Tract Society 
 and the American Sunday-School Union, and many other such philan- 
 thropic organizations, receive far more from the Presbyterian Church 
 than from any other denomination. It leads in the Foreign Missionary 
 work as conducted in this land Moreover it is a church noted for its 
 fraternal spirit and the spirit of cordial courtesy and comity it ever exhibits 
 towards other denominations. We say all this in no spirit of boasting, 
 but in that simply of thankful recollection , as our eyes glance back over 
 our worthy ancestry and antecedents. As showing the patriotism both 
 of this old church, and of the Presbyterian element of society in this 
 country, and as demonstrating the tendency both of Presbyterian princi- 
 ples and government, the opening of the Revolutionary struggle found 
 the Presbyterian ministers and churches to a man — as the historians of 
 the time tell us — on the side of the Colonies. In 1775 the General 
 Synod issued a pastoral letter, a brief extract from which indicates the 
 spirit prevailing in the church and reads : "Be careful to maintain the 
 union which at present subsists through all the Colonies. In particular, 
 as the Continental Congress, now sitting at Philadelphia, consists of 
 delegates chosen in the most unbiased manner by the body of the people, 
 let them not only be treated with respect and encouraged in their diffi- 
 cult service, not only let your prayers be offered up to God for his direc- 
 tion in their proceedings, but adhere firmly to their resolutions and let 
 
 1 1 
 
it be seen that they are able to bring out the whole strength of this vast 
 country to carry them into execution. ' ' 
 
 Contemporary with this letter of the Synod which was the highest 
 church court at the time was the famous Mecklenburgh Declaration of 
 Independence renouncing all allegiance to Great Britain passed by a 
 Convention in North Carolina, composed of delegates who were all Pres- 
 byterians, thus anticipating the action of the Colonial Congress in the 
 same line by more than a year. Farther in the Sessions of the Congress, 
 the influence of no delegate exceeded that wielded by the Rev. John 
 Withers poon, President of Princeton College, the only clerical signer of 
 the Declaration of Independence, " a man, Scotch in accent and strength 
 of conviction, but American at heart" under his leadership, and that cf 
 others, the ministers and members of the Presbyterian Church never 
 faltered in their devotion to the cause of the Independence of the United 
 States, but periled all for its support, being ready, with Witherspoon, 
 to go to the block if need be, in defence of civil and religious liberty. 
 So resolute and aggressive were they in their opposition to the English 
 Government, that the Colonial Cause was repeat edly spoken of in Great 
 Britain as the Presbyterian Rebellion. ' ' One reason of their thorough 
 loyalty and activity in the cause in addition to the great principles and 
 interests involved, was the fact that Presbyterians both in the old world 
 and the new had been accustomed to Representative Government, to the 
 subordination of the parts to the whole and to the rule of majorities for 
 more than two centuries prior to the American Revolution. They knew 
 the value of full unity to the new States, and they labored earnestly and 
 persistently until the divided Colonies became the United States. 
 Presbyterianism is by nature federative and not devisive, and chief 
 among the blessings which it has aided in bestowing upon the Country 
 was and is the Federal Union. The federal principle whose acknow- 
 ledgement resulted in the American Nation through the adoption of the 
 Constitution of 1 708 was found previous to that year in full operation in 
 America only in the Presbyterian Church, and had in it its most prac- 
 tical and successful advocate. I have followed in these observations a 
 line of thought indicated by a Presbyterian Historian. Our old Church 
 here in its Revolutionary metal was no exception, I am proud to say, to 
 the picture of Presbyterianism I have presented; hence I have dwelt 
 upon it as I have. l ' All honor to the many noble men and women 
 sleeping out in yonder cemetery for the manner in which, led on by their 
 patriotic Pastor, Dr. Roe, they stood together and suffered together for 
 liberty and right. ' ' Descended from the Puritans they were true to their 
 uncompromising religious ideas. Emigrants from Massachusetts organ- 
 ized it, coming mostly from the parish of Rev. John Woodbridge, of 
 
 12 
 
Newberry, in honor of whom the town was named, to perpetuate their 
 veneration for him. Their ancestors having fled from persecution to 
 obtain civil and religious liberty, were intensely religious and gave their 
 children names which largely perpetuated those ideas, such as Charity, 
 Fear, Hope, Faith, Restling, Experience and Patience. They hated all 
 forms of superstition embodied in religious rites, and observed the Sab- 
 bath with great strictness. They were stern and upright, but sometimes 
 a grim humor spills over in the way of an anecdote. For example, 
 the church in Stratford, Conn, divided, we are told, and the minority 
 called the Rev. Mr. Walker to be their minister. Dr. Chauncey, the old 
 pastor, was offended at some of Walker' s statements and took for his text 
 at the earliest opportunity, ''Be sober, be vigilant, because your advers- 
 ary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may 
 devour. ' ' His first point was, ' ' You see, my Brethren, that the devil 
 is a great Walker. ' ' 
 
 Some of the usages of those early churches are interesting reading 
 to-day in view of the great improvement we claim to have made in 
 churcfi order. Salaries were paid in wheat, peas, pork, beef, Indian 
 corn and rye, at market value. The minister also was provided with 
 wood free of charge, and each person between the ages of 16 and 66 
 was obliged to give him a load of wood. In other words every one in 
 the congregation was required to do his individual part toward the sup- 
 port of the church — the right gospel idea, certainly. ' ' The ministers 
 wood-pile must have been a sightly object," some one remarks. Then, 
 too, in those days, every traveller who came to the tavern of the town 
 was obliged to furnish religious testimonials before he could obtain rest 
 or refreshments. People were summoned to church by the drum, and 
 were seated according to rank by the Beadle, who carried a long pole 
 with which he kept children in order, proded the sleepers, and exercised 
 authority over the congregation. It was deemed unbecoming, improper 
 and highly immoral in its tendency for women to sing in church, because 
 Paul had commanded that "the women keep silence in the churches." 
 The Psalms were ' ' lined out " by a Deacon, the Catechism was repeated 
 by the children to the Minister, and applicants for membership were 
 required to give their religious experience before the congregation. 
 
 Time will allow me only to touch some historical points to treat the 
 occasion with becoming consistency. As I have addressed you before 
 in connection with the two hundredth anniversary on this historical line, 
 and adverted to the outlines of our early history, and especially that of 
 the church and pastors, as indicated in part by Rev. Dr. Azel Roe, there 
 is the less necessity for it now. Only two or three points I may recall. 
 
 This church has existed as a distinctively Presbyterian Church since 
 
 i3 
 
1707, but we commemorate the history of organized church life on this 
 spot for 225 years. From the nature of the case the church form was 
 Colonial and Independent at the first. We confine ourselves mostly in 
 this celebration to the last hundred years, the lifetime of the present 
 church edifice. It was built in 1803, near the close of the ministry of 
 the Rev. Dr. Roe, one of the most remarkable and venerable of its 
 pastors. The Hon. Joseph Bloomfield, a son of the church, being a son 
 of Dr. Moses Bloomfield, one of our venerated Elders, was the Governor 
 of the State of New Jersey at that time. On the 27th of May, 1675, the 
 first church edifice of which we can gain any definite account was erected, 
 standing nearly on the same spot, and which stood 128 years. One of 
 
 REV. AZEL ROE, D.D. 
 
 our oldest living members informs us that Jonathan Freeman, the father 
 of Dr. Ellis Freeman and great-great-grandfather of my wife, was the 
 architect of the church building, and that he looked in vain among other 
 church edifices of the time for something that suited him as a model, 
 hence its design differs from most others of the period. A description 
 given by Rev. Dr. Steele, of the Old Dutch Church, of New Brunswick, 
 is probably a fair representation of the average church building of that 
 early day. "A building," he says, " nearly square. At one side a 
 long pew for the accommodation of the public officers of the place, and 
 on the other, similar pews running parallel with the walls, which it is 
 said, were much sought after, as one eye could be directed toward the 
 
 14 
 
minister, and the other to anything that might require attention in the 
 other part of the house.' ' Far off, and up in a circular pulpit, supported 
 by a pedestal, was the minister, beneath the old-time-honored sounding- 
 board. Two pillars support the roof from the centre, which went up on 
 four sides, ending in a small steeple. The Sexton in ringing the bell, 
 stood in the middle aisle, winding the rope during the service around 
 one of the pillars. The church was never desecrated with stoves, but in 
 the midst of Winter, the good people kept up what heat they could by 
 an occasional stamp on the floor, and tradition says, the "Dominie 
 would keep warm by an extra amount of gesture. ' ' 
 
 This description would hardly be perfect without a reference to the 
 long handled boxes by which the collections were wont to be taken in 
 the old churches, and which I have seen myself. These were replaced 
 in this church some years ago by plates donated by Mrs. Eliza Harriott 
 and then again substituted by our present plates made from a beam of 
 the former church timber removed to give place to the organ. 
 
 In the construction of the earlier of our two buildings they ' ' made 
 haste slowly." After its erection in 1675 there seems to have been a 
 cessation of internal improvements for about five years, then the floor 
 was laid and some plastering done. In ' 97 " the galleries were finished. ' ' 
 In '98 " the walls of the building were to be whitewashed by John Pike, 
 Member of Assembly and Clerk of the Corporation." Ezekiel Bloomfield 
 w r as also to build a "new pulpit forthwith. He was an Ex- Assemblyman 
 and a little later Keeper of the Pound' ' So that public officers seemed to 
 be more practical and comprehensive in those days than now, and 
 " public functionaries " did not consider that any honorable employ- 
 ment, however humble, and especially in the interests of the church, 
 would compromise their dignity. In contrast with this, as Dr. Roe 
 tells us, the new building (the present one) was undertaken ' ' with 
 great unanimity and spirit," and that "it was almost finished by the 
 Fall, so that it was opened and consecrated by the beginning of Decem- 
 ber" of 1803. They describe it as "a very decent and convenient 
 house, sufficiently large and spacious." This is the beautiful structure 
 in which it has been our privilege these many years to worship. We 
 nearly all remember it, I am sure, as it stood out 25 years ago in its 
 plainness and simplicity and whiteness so firmly and substantially con- 
 structed. A very expressive image in these very epithets of the character 
 for the most part of those who originally erected and worshiped in it. 
 The external shingling is suggestive of its antiquity. Within and with- 
 out it has been reconstructed to bring it into sympathy with modern 
 ideas and tastes until it stands as a gem of beauty of which none of us 
 need be ashamed. As its earlier form embodied somewhat strikingly 
 
 15 
 
the character of its worshipers, is it true to-day that its remodeled 
 beauty is also suggestive of " the beauties of holiness " by which its 
 present worshipers are distinguished ? It ought to be so, and I leave 
 the question with each individual member to answer. 
 
 While in the honorable list of subscribers to the new building, as 
 given us by Mr. Dally, there appears no female names, perhaps it is to 
 be attributed to the same reason already suggested for women taking no 
 part in church worship in those early days ; but I apprehend the true 
 story of the case would reveal the fact that womens' fingers were just as 
 deft in those da}\s, and womens' hearts and brains were just as warm and 
 active, as ever they were in the days of the Tabernacle and Temple in 
 constructing their elegant tapestries, or as they are to-day in every line 
 of Christian work. The men, among the founders of this church, were 
 men of sterling mould, representing the best families of our community, 
 and many of whom are still among us to-day. The officers of the church 
 who were largely among its founders and builders — its Boards of Trus- 
 tees and Deacons as well as Elders — were evidently men, who were not 
 only to be trusted, but who loved to spend and be spent in her service. 
 Many of you are familiar with the names of the worthy and efficient 
 Pastors who succeeded Rev. Dr. Azel Roe and filled up most of the century. 
 Rev. Dr. Henry Mills, Rev. Dr. Wm. B. Barton, Rev. Wm. M. Martin 
 and Rev. Geo. C. Lucas. As there will be separate papers on Thursday 
 evening, on the Pastors Elders and founders, I barely mention them in 
 this connection. Men they were — all of them — of piety and parts, 
 whom God owned and blessed in their work. Did time permit, it would 
 be exceedingly instructive as a study of Providences to advert to the 
 agitations going on in other lands than our own about the period of 
 which this history begins — great moral eruptions, which were forcing 
 some of the best classes of their inhabitants to seek for themselves, new 
 lands and new homes, where they could enjoy free opinions and freedom 
 of conscience in religious worship, both for themselves and for their 
 children. In France that fermentation was going on which resulted ulti- 
 mately in the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which had been the 
 great charter of the religious hopes of the refined and noble Huguenots. 
 Tyranny in Old England led many of her best sons not only to look wist- 
 fully toward New England, but to emigrate thither. Then, too, the spirit 
 of adventure actuated numbers of the more excellent and educated 
 classes of those other countries, such as Holland, which had long been 
 living under the noontide of gospel civilization. Many of them were at 
 this time drawn to this land, and attracted to this part of the country, 
 especially about the close of the seventeenth century. Providence thus 
 
 16 
 
kindly and remarkable prepared an ancestry for yon, to whose hands 
 could safely be consigned the ark both of civil and religious liberty. 
 
 A Sweedish botanical traveller who passed through Woodbridge 
 tells us in his diary how it appeared in 1748 : "Woodbridge is a small 
 village in a plain, consisting of a few houses ; we stopped here to rest 
 our horses a little. The houses were most of them built of boards ; the 
 walls had a covering of shingles on the outside ; these shingles were 
 round at one end and all of a length in each row ; some of the houses 
 had an Italian roof, but the greatest part had roofs with pediments ; 
 most of them were covered with shingles. In most places we met with 
 wells, and buckets to draw up the water.' ' Mr. Dally remarks upon 
 this that it is evident "the houses of that time were well built, and 
 rather fashionable." 
 
 There are many facts in the history of this old village that deserve to 
 be embalmed in the memories of the lovers of literature and patriotism, as 
 well as religion. The first printing press established in New Jersey 
 was operated in our village by James Parker, who was also editor of 
 the second newspaper ever published in New York City, called The 
 Post Boy. The first magazine published in the State was printed here, 
 called the New American Magazine. One other thing is a fact as 
 recorded in state history which may not be regarded as so commendable 
 or creditable, is the fact that the first tavern in the State was established 
 in Woodbridge — yet let us remember that that institution of the early day 
 was very different in purpose and equipment from the saloon of to-day. 
 Its primary purpose was hospitality and an absolute necessity for public 
 accommodation, though the pity is that then even more than now intoxi- 
 cants should be regarded as necessary to comfort. 
 
 You add to this that the cause of liberty during the Revolution 
 had no nobler defenders and martyrs than were some of our citizens, and 
 the worthy Pastor Roe ; and you put a crown on the brow of the place 
 both civil literary, patriotic and religious, beneath which she need never 
 blush ; and, I wonder not, that many a one in those days should solilo- 
 quize under the impluse of most pleasing associations : 
 
 ' ' Here where these low, lush meadows lie, 
 We wandered in the Autumn weather, 
 When earth and air and arching sky 
 Blazed grandly, goldenly together. 
 
 ' ' And oft in that same Autumn time, 
 
 We sought and roamed these self-same meadows, 
 When evening brought the curfew chime, 
 And peopled field and fold with shadows. 
 
 17 
 
Have you ever tried to picture the condition of society and the world 
 two centuries and a quarter ago in comparison with the present ? The 
 house of that period, in most respects, in striking contrast with the 
 majority of those of the present day. So with the dress, a la mode, it 
 may be on the part of the mistress of the home, but in its home-spun 
 plainness and simplicity, what a mode. Pass into the parlor, so-called 
 now, if you can find it then, and you will find no daguerreotype and 
 much less a photograph. A rude water- color here and there, perhaps, 
 on the wall, but nothing of that even with the humbler people. When 
 age or accident attacked the teeth, no possibility of a dental supply; no 
 sewing machine to lighten domestic labor ; no sign of a carpet upon any 
 floor other than that constructed of rags, and then only among the so- 
 called ' ' wealthy ;" no stove in the kitchen or parlor ; no coal to burn 
 in it, and no match to start a fire on the hearth. The rudest possible 
 household utensils, little crockery, no forks and a few metal plates and 
 dishes ; no magazines or newspapers to be seen ; no established postal 
 facilities; letters entrusted from hand to hand and at great intervals. 
 The flint-lock musket for arms, the spinning-wheel for industry, and the 
 stage-coach for travel, marked the bounderies of general progress and 
 attainment. There was music in the home doubtless often, but it was 
 of the simplest order and came not from piano, melodeon or organ, but 
 only a kind of spinet, and if " a fiddle ' ' was sounded it was the kind 
 made of "cornstalks." When the Sabbath Day came the only method 
 of warmth in the church was the foot-stove, carefully prepared and 
 carried back and forth. Their hearts were never stirred in the sanctuary 
 by those hymns so familiar and sacred to our hearts : " My faith looks 
 up to Thee," " Nearer My God to Thee," "Jesus, lover of my Soul," 
 "Rock of Ages," and a hundred others like them. When the funeral 
 occurred no undertaker was obtainable of skill and experience. Kind 
 neighbors, necessarily awkward and unskilled, ministered with trem- 
 bling hands as best they might in the solemn service. 
 
 If just this little reminiscent sketch of the deprivations, as we esteem 
 them, of that early time, in striking contrast with our own advantages, 
 and touching only the simplest every -day things of life and society, if 
 this shall lead us to appreciate our advanced position and increased re- 
 sponsibilities more highly, the end of the reference will be sufficiently 
 answered. Just here I am reminded how fond we are of saying, ' ' Ours 
 is a Progressive Age," and that is true beyond all question. "It is a 
 great way," as one has said, "between Watt's tea kettle and the Bald- 
 win locomotive, a great way from Franklyn'skite to Edison's dynamos." 
 " Old things have passed away" in a wonderful and generous sense, 
 1 ' and behold all things have become new, ' ' and in the great body of 
 
 18 
 
this change we are to rejoice, though we are to remember also that all 
 change is not necessarily progress. A danger of this disposition shows 
 itself in some respects in the realm of religion. God forbid that we 
 should refuse to welcome new truth or new phases of great central truths 
 from new light cast upon the scriptures. But by the same token God 
 forbid we should part with the old without just reason. Let us sing 
 with all our hearts : 
 
 " Ring out the old, 
 Ring in the new." 
 
 And with all our hearts let us add : 
 
 ' ' Ring out the false, 
 Ring in the true." 
 
 We should be wiser than our fathers about the great rarities of 
 religion, but we are to give good heed at the same time to the divine 
 direction to his chosen people: "Remove not the ancient landmarks, 
 which thy fathers have set." An incident is related of William of 
 •Orange, when he was crossing the Channel to assume the English 
 Crown. He was deeply oppressed by a sense of his responsibility. 
 The night was foggy, and as he paced the deck of the vessel, he heard 
 the Captain calling out ever and anon to the man at the wheel, ' ' steady ! 
 steady ! ' ' and that, he adopted as his watchword in after years of royal 
 administration. It is a good watchword for all in the religious world. 
 We should ever hear above all the roar of controversial waves the reas- 
 suring voice of the great Captain of our salvation, "saying to us, 
 " steady ! steady ! " as we sail over the sea of life. The very antiquity 
 of this organization and this venerable house of worship itself, appeals 
 to our tenderest instincts and associations as only an old home can do, 
 and so the soliloquy of the Poet is not misplaced upon our lips : 
 
 ' ' Oh, the old house at home where my forefathers dwelt, 
 Where a child, at the feet of my mother I knelt, 
 Where she taught me the prayer, where she read me the page, 
 Which, if infancy lisps, is the solace of age ; 
 My heart 'mid all changes, wherever I roam, 
 Ne'er loses its love for the old house at home. 
 
 * ' It was not for its splendor that dwelling was dear, 
 It was not that the gay and the noble were near ; 
 O'er the porch the wild rose and the woodbine entwined, 
 And the sweet scented jessamine waved in the wind ; 
 But dearer to me than proud turret or dome, 
 Were the halls of my fathers, the old house at home. ' ' 
 
 19 
 
As among the antiquities of the church it is a' matter of interest to 
 mention that the oldest communion service still in our keeping was used 
 during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Roe, and our present Baptisimal Bowl 
 was donated by Mrs Campyon Cutter, the mother of Mrs. Harriet Patton. 
 It is further an interesting fact which came to my notice very recently, 
 that the bell used on the building preceeding this to summon the wor- 
 shipers to the House of God, is in the posession of Col. Blanchard 
 Edgar, an heir-loom from his father and grandfather, and which fell to 
 their lot by some means when the old church was taken down. It is a 
 sweet-toned brass bell, of about 250 pounds weight, fitted up with\some 
 English armorial hangings. 
 
 REV. HENRY MILLS, D.D. 
 
 The happiness and profit of church services are often more thorougly 
 made or marred by a Sexton's part in them than is generally realized. 
 Cleanliness and light and heat and ventilation are closely related to 
 church life, and they are necessarily closely related to the Sexton. It 
 is as difficult for the best of sextons to please every one — as it is for the 
 best of preachers or pastors — but our church in the main in its long his- 
 tory has been favored with efficient men in that office, and they gener- 
 ally held the position for long periods, both to the credit of the people 
 and the office. We are fortunate now, not only in having the right man, 
 Mr. Scott, in the right place, as both the order and attractiveness of the 
 
 20 
 
Sanctuary, and the beautiful old cemetery, testify — but pleasant names 
 occur to many memories in the past in that connection as Cook and 
 Evans and Levi. We are glad to be able to make recognition of the 
 services, especially of the wife of the latter in her age and widowhood, 
 and possible departure from among us ; and we will ever think kindly 
 of her in her familiarity with the headstones out in yonder old grave 
 yard, and tender offices rendered to many of our beloved dead. Let us 
 appreciate our Sextons, past and present, and their worthy wives, who- 
 ever lent them a helping hand. 
 
 Pleasant reminiscences are connected with the leaders of our melody 
 in the old Sanctuary. Their characters tarry with us mellowed by the 
 atmosphere of sweet song, the}* were wont to create — only a few names, 
 can be definitely recalled in that connection, Mr. Gage Inslee, who held 
 the position with his tuning fork, under the high old pulpit for 30 years; 
 Mr. T. Harvey Morris, and Mr. James Edgar, all whose free terms of 
 service lasted through a series of years— supported through the years 
 by willing voices the most of whom are silent now, or rather singing 
 on as we hope, stronger and sweeter than ever in the choir above. 
 Most fingers are quiet now that manipulated our instruments of other 
 days. Among these we think of Mrs. James Brown, and of the living, 
 Miss Phoebe Freeman, Mrs. Samuel Potter and George Laslett. It is 
 a matter of interest that Mr. Thos. Barron presented to the church its 
 first musical instrument, a melodeon, to supercede the old tuning fork. 
 We do not forget the quartette who served us so efficiently and attract- 
 tively for a time, nor the later services of Mrs. Demarest, all whose 
 voices still echo back upon us, even in the passage of years, with pecul- 
 iar sweetness of melody. 
 
 This old church has been the tap-root from which a number of 
 other churches have sprung, and gone forward upon their own flourish- 
 ing way, bearing blossoms and fruit to the praise of the common Mas- 
 ter. It is not within our present scope, to give the history of these, but 
 simply refer to them and bid them God-speed on their brotherly way in 
 company with ourselves— the Episcopal Church had its origin from ours 
 in 171 1 during the pastorate of Rev. Nathaniel Wade in connection 
 probably with the assumption a little before of the distinctively Presby- 
 terian form of church government. 
 
 For about twenty-five years, the church of Metuchen was a pleas- 
 ant yoke- fellow with this one under the efficient pastorate of Rev. Dr. 
 Roe. In 1893, the time came in the judgment of the Presbytery, of 
 New York, to send it out on its own separate and shining way, and its 
 continued success ever since has been matter for profound congratu- 
 lation. 
 
 21 
 
Most of us are familiar with the origin of the Congregational 
 Church, of this place, as related to our own, within the last twenty-five 
 years and it is one of the pleasant things to be recorded that we have 
 lived in brotherly fellowship with each other during our brief co-ordinate 
 history. 
 
 On the other side, like the pride of a parent in the developement of 
 a promising child, we have watched during these recent years with 
 peculiar pleasure the planting and growth of the little vine of Carteret. 
 Housed in their beautiful little Sanctuary we believe there are years of 
 great promise and usefulness before them, and we pray, that more and 
 more luscious clusters may hang upon their boughs, under the blessings 
 of Almighty God. 
 
 I should call special attention, as it deserves, to the womens' promi- 
 nent part in the long history of the church, were it not that that sub- 
 ject will be adequately treated in a separate paper on Thursday even- 
 ing. Suffice it to say, though it would go without saying, they have 
 ever been faithful and true to the Church' s best interests, both in material 
 and spiritual things. Many an emergency was bridged by their faith, 
 ingenuity and courage, as well as by their indefatigable industry with 
 skillful fingers. A striking instance of female faith and courage, in the 
 early history of the place, is furnished by Mr. Dally, and I quote also 
 as showing the value put upon the divine word in "the days that tried 
 men's souls." " Smith and Timothy Bloomfield w T ere both away in the 
 Continental Army, and the old homestead and farm were open to the 
 ravages of the predatory raids of the enemy. Among other things 
 stolen were the old family bible and a brindle cow. The precious book 
 could not be readily given up. It was the comfort of the pious house- 
 hold during the long absence of the men and the perils of the times ; to 
 be deprived of its comfort in their hours of anxious watching and terrible 
 strain was a prospect too melancholy to contemplate. But what could 
 be done. Bibles were few and costly in those days, and the poverty 
 which came through the fortunes of war deprived them of the means of 
 replacing the jewel. Eunice, the daughter of Timothy Bloomfield, con- 
 cluded at length to appeal to the British Commander on Staten Island 
 for the restoration of the priceless volume. In company with another 
 girl, residing in the family, Eunice started from home, walking to the 
 river. It was a brave deed for lawless bands were abroad. Doubtless 
 the God whom they honored by seeking for his word sent his angels to 
 guard them in their dangerous way. Reaching the shore they were 
 non-plussed. How should they reach the other side ? Not far off they 
 espied an old scow. Pushing it into the water they paddled across, 
 objects of much curiosity to groups of red-coated soldiers on the island. 
 
 22 
 
With deference the guard on the bank assisted them in debarking and 
 enquired their business. Desiring to see the officer in command, very 
 courteously he conducted them to headquarters. The Commander re- 
 ceived the young women with affability, and listened to their story, as 
 they earnestly pleaded for the old bible. They saw the tears gathering 
 in the officers eyes, and felt sure their suit was won. So indeed it was. 
 He sent to the ship, riding at anchor, some distance from the shore, to 
 which the volume had been carried. It was speedily brought and 
 placed in the young woman' s hands. Gratefully, they were about to 
 return homeward, when the Commander kindly inquired if anything 
 else of value had been taken from them. They replied that a brindle 
 cow had been also driven away by his men. In adjoining fields large 
 droves were feeding. Leading his guests to these, he pointed toward 
 the cattle and asked if they recognized their cow. A long scrutiny 
 failed to discover the domestic favorite. As they were about to give up 
 the search, the brindle herself came bounding toward them with every 
 demonstration of pleasure, and placed herself in a satisfied way, close 
 beside Eunice, as much as to say : ' ' Come, it is milking time ! ' ' The 
 officer smiled and declared there could be no doubt of the original own- 
 ership of the cow. A guard of soldiers escorted the girls across the 
 water with their regained treasures, and accompanied them for a con- 
 siderable distance toward home, at which they arrived with hearts over- 
 flowing with thankfulness. Who can adequately describe the feelings 
 with which they ' ' opened the old bible again that night ? ' ' 
 
 The Century, let me say in closing, during which this Church build- 
 ing has held its place marks the grandest era in the Church' s history 
 since the Apostolic Century. We are impressed with this the more as 
 we stand consciously on the border line of the twentieth centry. Ten- 
 nyson gave us the keynote of the nineteenth century in saying : 
 
 " The old order changeth, and yieldeth place to new. And God 
 fulfills himself in many ways, lest one good custom should corrupt the 
 world " The seal of the first Colonies bore the figure of an Indian 
 encircled with the legend of the Macedonian cry, and Christian progress 
 and civilization have marked the track of the closing century in a mis- 
 sionary activity never seen before since the first one. Henry Drum- 
 mond somewhere strikingly says : " Next to love for the chiefest of 
 sinners, the most touching thing about the religion of Christ is its amaz- 
 ing trust in the least of Saints. Here is the mightiest enterprising ever 
 launched upon this earth, mightier than creation, because it is recrea- 
 tion, and the carrying it out is left, so to speak, to haphazard, to indi- 
 vidual loyalty, to free enthusiasms, to uncoerced activities, to an uncom- 
 pelled response to the pressures of God's Spirit. " It was reserved con- 
 
 23 
 
sequently for our century to discover the true meaning of the great last 
 declaration of the world's Saviour, " Go ye into all the world and preach 
 the Gospel to every creature." The glorious Missionary adventure we 
 appropriately remember to-day is contemporary with the history of this 
 old building and far younger than the limits of this church organization 
 — but day- break is over all the hills of the world at length though it 
 has been slough-footed, and "we therein do rejoice — yea, and will re- 
 joice.'' " There are living men," as one has eloquently said, "who 
 saw the Missionary child in the cradle. The dew of youth is still on its 
 brow. Standing at the gateway of the nineteenth century, the church did 
 in very truth ' face a frowning world.' ' It was the heyday of a boast- 
 ful infidelity. The horizon was blazing with the camp fires of her 
 enemies. The air rang with pred ; ctions of the speedy disappearance of 
 Christianity from the earth. In that day Thomas Paine, who, as one 
 has truly said, resembled "a mouse nibbling at the plumage of an 
 Archangel," was picking flaws in the Holy Scriptures, and heralding 
 the dawn of the ' ' Age of Reason. ' ' Hume was tasking his rarely gifted 
 intellectuality to demonstrate the impossibility of the supernatural. 
 Gibbon was expending the stores of a richly furnished brain the effort to 
 explain the triumph of Christianity without the assistance of God. 
 Voltaire was snickering at everything that brought help or hope into a 
 sinning and sorrowful world. It was an era aptly stiled the Pentecost 
 of unbelitf. But the Age of Reason proved an age of terror. The 
 rights of man could not be vindicated when the rights of God were 
 scouted; when the cross went down the guillotine went up. Prayer 
 and praise in the name of Christ were replaced by the orgies of a 
 Witches' Sabbath. The melenium of infidelity was a festival of iniquity. ' ' 
 At such an hour and amid such darkness and storm modern Missions 
 commenced its triumphal career, which has culminated at length in the 
 grandest Ecumenical Missionary Conference in the metropolis of this 
 Western Continent, the world has ever seen, and the outcome of which, 
 as we believe, is destined to be grander than its retrospect. Amid such 
 scenes transpiring on the other side of the ocean the foundations of this 
 old church were laid by our fathers, and we enteitain the glad hope of 
 something grander for its history in the coming time than has been 
 reached in the time past. 
 
 The fathers sleep, but men remain 
 As true and wise and brave as they ; 
 
 Why count the loss without the gain ? 
 The best is that we have to-day.' ' 
 
 24 
 
" No lack was in thy primal stock, 
 
 No weakling founders builded here ; 
 There were the men of Plymouth Rock ; 
 The Puritan and Cavalier." 
 
 1 ' And they whose firm endurance gained 
 The freedom of the souls of men, 
 Whose hands unstained in peace maintained 
 The swordless commonwealth of Penn." 
 
 1 ' With peace that comes of purity, 
 And strength to simple justice due, 
 So owes our loyal dream of thee, 
 God of our fathers ! make it true. ' ' 
 
 I have read of an old Roman soldier, scarred and crippled with 
 veteran service, who, hearing one day, over the hills the distant sounds of 
 battle so familiar to his ear, buckled on his sword again and with 
 stumbling steps struggled toward the field, praying the gods at every 
 step that he might mingle with the fray once more. So, beloved in 
 Christ, the great armageddon is being fought to-day in the world. God, 
 through the centuries, working by his militant church, is hastening on 
 toward the final and glorious consumation. Let us crave the honor of 
 fighting in the van, let us endeavor to win the service chaplet of glory 
 by lending all our powers to the blessed Master in the interest of truth 
 and righteousness. The slogan is sounding over the hills of time sum- 
 moning every Christian to do his duty. And, so looking up together 
 into the face of our Father in heaven to-day, amid these tender reminis- 
 cences of the long past are we not impelled gratefully to exclaim : 
 
 ' ' I love thy church, O God, 
 Her walls before Thee stand, 
 Dear as the apple of thine eye, 
 And graven on thy hand ; 
 For her my tears shall fall, 
 For her my prayers ascend, 
 To her my toils and cares be given, 
 Till toils and cares shall end." 
 
 25 
 
RECEPTION OF A NEW COMMUNION SERVICE PRESENTED 
 BY MR. WM. H. CUTLER. 
 
 BY THE PASTOR. 
 
 We are living in an age of progress and improvement, and these 
 relate to the Church as well as the State. Because a thing is new does 
 not necessarily commend it as an improvement, but we should look for 
 improvements, and be ready to welcome those that are really such. We 
 have seen discussions in the papers relating to a new kind of Commun- 
 ion Service, especially commended on principles of sanitation. Our 
 Church has been fortunate in having a thoughtful and generous friend, 
 whose heart is in sympathy both with her welfare in her advancing 
 years, and with the best things of the age, and comes forward to-day, 
 on this exceedingly interesting occasion and presents us with superb and 
 beautiful Silver Communion set of this new order and which we shall 
 have the pleasure of inaugurating next Sabbath Day. I refer to Mr. 
 Wm. H. Cutler, who has favored us before with evidences of his gene- 
 rosity in giving us the Hymn Books we are now using, and the portrait 
 of Rev. Dr. Roe, which hangs on the face of the gallery. We are glad 
 to count this pleasant act among the memorable circumstances about us 
 to-day connected with this Two Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Anniversary 
 of the Church, as we remember and class with it, as part of the Church's 
 history, items of his venerable father's generosity, and those of Mr. 
 James Brown and his son, and Mr. Henry Morris and others, when the 
 building was being remodeled, as connected with the organ and the 
 chandalier, the cushions and other things. We recall all these the more 
 readily to-day because they have so pleasantly woven themselves into 
 the warp and woof of the Church's history and of the building itself. 
 
 I am sure I but represent this Church in tendering to Mr. Cutler 
 her unanimous thanks for the bestowment of this beautiful and useful 
 Communion Service, and I accept it, as representing the Church, from 
 his hand, and may God give us a great blessiug in its use in the com- 
 ing years ! 
 
 26 
 
REV. WILLIAM B. BARTON. 
 
 27 
 
THE OLD CHURCH. 
 
 BY WM. LYLE. 
 
 There it stands with its walls of gray, 
 
 Mid tombstones of many years ; 
 Could they speak, how much the}' could say 
 
 Of mourners and lonely tears. 
 How strange all the questions they'd raise, 
 
 If they with life were arra} r ed — 
 Where were we in the far off days 
 
 When these foundations were laid ? 
 
 But a question more grave meets us here, 
 
 And we pause while we make the quest — 
 Where shall we be when all grows sere, 
 
 And no echo disturbs the rest. 
 When the cold snows of Winter fall, 
 
 And levels those mounds we see, 
 When your clear bell no more shall call, 
 
 Where shall we wanderers be? 
 
 There's a book in which Times' annals stand, 
 
 Which earth- storms can never assail, 
 A writing produced by an unseen hand, 
 
 Which some day must finish its tale, 
 Then a voice shall come from the throne 
 
 Piercing all listening ears ; 
 I, the Lord, have been looking on 
 
 At the old Church all these years." 
 
 Bless the old Church, long may it stand ! 
 
 Bless' d its people and Pastor, too ! 
 A beacon of light in the land, 
 
 And a signal forever true. 
 God bless the old Church, is our prayer, 
 
 And when its last chimes shall have toll'd 
 May all the dear names written there 
 
 In the Saviour's own book be enrolled. 
 
 28 
 
REVIEW OF THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL FOR EIGHTY-TWO 
 
 YEARS. 
 
 BY HOWARD A. TAPPAN. 
 
 As birthday anniversaries occur in a family and children bring their 
 greetings and kindly expressions to their parents, so the Sunday-school 
 to-day brings loyal greeting and good-will to its parent on this its mem- 
 orable Two Hundred and Twenty-fifth Birthday. For eighty-two years 
 the Church has watched over its child with interest, and as our own 
 birthday is only one month away we have united our celebration with 
 our parent. 
 
 In June, 1818, our Sunday-school was organized by three women — 
 Sally Potter, Jane Potter and Mrs. Harriett Paton, and was one of the 
 first, if not the first Sunday- school, organized in the State. It was 
 principally through the effort of Miss Sally Potter, a woman of remark- 
 able force and character, that the school was placed on its present firm 
 foundation. She realized the highly responsible charge that is connected 
 with a Sunday-school teacher's work, the lasting impressions that are 
 formed in youth, and to this work she gave her thoughts, her prayers 
 and her increasing efforts until she became so enfeebled by disease, as 
 to be scarcely able to sit up during a school session. At one season 
 when the teachers were scattered, and there was not as much interest 
 manifested as there had been she kept the school together by her own 
 efforts. At another period she organized and maintained a school near 
 Metuchen when it was impossible for the children to reach the main 
 school. 
 
 One of the prayers written by her for the infant class is, of itself, a 
 lasting memorial of her Christian character. It was as follows : 
 
 Oh, thou great and Holy God, we pray thee to condescend to pour 
 out thy Holy Spirit upon this Sabbath-school. Most of us are very 
 young, but we are all old enough to sin, and we all have sinned and 
 broken God's Holy law. Oh, God, teach us the evil of sin. May we 
 all be sensible that when we sin, our sins are committed against God, 
 the great and Holy God, that made us. O, God, we thank thee for the 
 precious Bible that tells us we must repent, and have new hearts, or we 
 cannot go to heaven. O, Lord, we pray thee to teach us by thy Holy 
 Spirit that we may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Our Father 
 in Heaven, wilt thou teach us the way, and plan of salvation by Jesus 
 Christ ; and wilt thou give us an understanding to know Him, who is 
 the Way, the Truth and the Life. O, Lord, we pray for faith in the 
 great Redeemer, for without faith, we cannot please Thee. O, Lord, 
 we thank Thee, that little children may pray unto Thee. We ask 
 
 29 
 
for new hearts, that we may pray aright. 0, Lord, wilt thou be pleased 
 to bless our dear parents, that they may love Thee, and go to heaven 
 when they die. O, Lord, we pray Thee to bless our teachers and give 
 them the Holy Spirit, that they ma}' teach us to be good and happy, 
 and may we always remember the Sabbath-day to keep it Holy. We 
 pray Thee, O Lord, to pardon our sins, and bless our souls, for the sake 
 of Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 Miss Potter was only assisted by other noble Christian women, and 
 if the roll could be called of those who have earnestly and faithfully 
 labored for Christ in this Sunday school for the past eighty-tw 7 o years — 
 eight out of every ten who answered to the call would be women. They 
 
 MRS. HARRIET C. PATON. 
 
 have principally sustained it down to the present time, and I can bear 
 testimony that during the short period of ten years that I have been 
 indentified with the school the}- are still doing earnest, loyal, faithful 
 work in their classes for Christ's sake, and the influence for good that 
 they create cannot be estimated. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Barton was the next superintendent, and it was through 
 the efforts of his wife that a society of young ladies was organized, and 
 known as the Sunday-School Society ; their object being to work for the 
 benefit of the Sabbath-school. They met afternoons at different houses 
 to sew, and the proceeds of their labor were used to purchase the childs 
 paper for the Sunday-school. 
 
 30 
 
At one time they raised and donated $25 for books for a library 
 which has grown until it now contains nearly 600 books of the highest 
 grade. 
 
 On Tuesday evening, August 14, 1865, a Literary Society of young 
 women, known as the Mnemonic Society gave an entertainment, the 
 proceeds of which were used in purchasing a silk banner which they 
 presented to the Sunday-school. This banner is still used. 
 
 Here the records were destroyed by fire, and it is impossible to 
 get any accurate account of the school until 1876, from which time 
 the records are complete. The highest average attendance for a 
 year since 1876 was 118 in 1883; since then the average has been 
 about no. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Barton was succeeded by John E- Barron ; of his superin- 
 tendency we have little record as is the case with his successor David N. 
 Demarest. It was during Mr. Demarest's term of office that the first 
 instrument, a melodeon, given by Mr. Thos. Barron, was used in the 
 Sabbath school. Before this the music was started with a tuning-fork. 
 It is interesting to know that while Mr. Demarest was superintendent 
 the school contributed toward the fitting out of the Morning Star, the 
 first missionary boat that sailed from New York to the Sandwich Islands. 
 Every scholar who gave ten cents or more, received a certificate on 
 which was a picture of the boat. 
 
 On the death of Mr. Demarest, Mr. James P. Edgar succeeded as 
 superintendent, and under his wise management the school increased in 
 numbers and power. At the time of his resignation, September 7, 1868, 
 he was presented with a handsome Bible by the officers and teachers as 
 a token of their deep esteem. 
 
 Mr. Henry A. Morris was the next incumbent ; he being elected in 
 September, 1868, and holding the office for eleven years. It was during 
 his term that the present Sunday-school room was built. Before this 
 the Sunday-school room was on the other side of the avenue near the 
 parsonage. It was also during Mr. Morris's administration in 1870, 
 that the first excursion to Asbury Park was undertaken. At that time 
 the venture was new and the financial risk considerable, but it was 
 thoroughly successful, and since then the school has spent many pleas- 
 ant days at the sea shore. 
 
 In 1879, Mr - J onn Anderson was chosen superintendent and held 
 the office for two years. He was succeeded by Mr. Wm. Edgar who 
 .served seven years, Mr. M. A. Brown three years, Mr. T. H. Morris 
 one. Mr. Edgar two, H. A. Tappen one, Mr. James Lyle one, and H. 
 A. Tappen four. 
 
 The Sunday-school has been self-supporting for many years, and 
 
 3i 
 
has helped in every part of the missionary field by its contributions to 
 the different branches of the church work. 
 
 For a long period the school has set aside the collection taken en 
 the forth Sunday of each month, to be given to that branch of the church 
 work designated by the Presbytery. It has also aided our church in 
 times of necessity. 
 
 It has been our custom of the return of every Christmas tide to 
 observe the day appropriately by special services on the Sabbath, and 
 by an evening through the week when young and old gather round the 
 Christmas Tree and give and receive tokens of love and remembrance 
 which leads us to think of the Christ, who is so willing and anxious to 
 give us far better gifts than we can either ask or think. 
 
 It is impossible to tell of the good that has been accomplished in 
 the past eighty-two years. Many hearts have been given to the Saviour 
 through work in the Sunday-school, and many lives have been strength- 
 ened by the heart to heart talks in the classes. There are times when 
 we feel discouraged and disheartened in our work, but let us, as we 
 cross the portal of the eighty-third year, remember that every word 
 spoken sincerely for Christ, will be blessed. 
 
 OUR PASTORS. 
 
 BY T. HARVEY MORRIS. 
 
 To "a brain of feathers and a heart of lead" has been assigned a 
 review of the pastors of this church two hundred and twenty-five years 
 agone. Like sentimental Thomas the reviewers heart should be in it 
 since his ancestors for three generations have labored here. 
 
 Some poet wrote, that " This age thinks better of a gilded fool, 
 than of a threadbare saint, in wisdom' s school " 
 
 We cannot agree with him, and believe that all of you, with me, 
 will do honor to the memory of these godly men, some of whom " Lived 
 in tempest, but died in port. ' ' We must be brief, our thoughts are 
 quick as a weaver's shuttle. 
 
 Beginning the historic outline; the first recorded pastor of this 
 generation was Mr. Samuel Treat who preached here for six months in 
 1670. We were not acquainted with him, but presume he was strictly 
 temperate, — though his name was treat. 
 
 Benjamin Salisbury supplied the pulpit for three months in 1674, 
 but his preaching was not satisfactory. Like the Salisbury plains man 
 he could thank God for even small favors. 
 
 32 
 
In 1680, John Allen became the preacher of the town, was very 
 popular and served acceptably for six } r ears. 
 
 For three years following, Mr. Archibald Riddle, a Scotchman, 
 was pastor. Surely the word of God could not have been to him a 
 cunningly devised fable. 
 
 The next undershepherd was Samuel Shepherd. His name, at 
 least, implies that he was fitted for his position. He was the minister 
 of the town up to 1708. Nathaniel Wade was ordained and installed in 
 January of the same year. 
 
 In 1 7 14, Mr. John Pierson came from Connecticut, and remained 
 forty years. From the length of time he remained here, he must have 
 been very highly thought of. Possibly the noted Rev. A. T. Pierson 
 may be one of his descendants. 
 
 Mr. Nathaniel Whitaker was ordained as pastor on December 10, 
 1755, and preached five years when he was dismissed. 
 
 After he left Woodbridge, Mr. Azel Roe was invited to preach on 
 trial, was ordained and installed in the fall of 1763, and labored here 
 'till 1 815. We picture him to have been 
 
 " Like the Lord's prophet sublime, 
 
 And awful as death and judgment 
 
 The God — commissioned, the soul searcher, 
 
 His voice deep and low like the thunder afar off. ' ' 
 
 Then in 18 16 Rev. Dr. Henry Mills comes upon the scene, re- 
 maining pastor 'till 1822, when he was called to Auburn Theological 
 Seminary. 
 
 The same year Rev. Wm Barton succeeded him, remaining thirty 
 years and dying in the harness. He and Dr. Roe sleep in the city of 
 the dead near us, surrounded by the graves of those to whom they min- 
 istered in holy things. During Mr. Barton's ministry there was a 
 mighty revival in this old church, and many were gathered into the 
 fold. We are living in times when they tell us that only the love of 
 God should be preached. That is well in its place. We must remember, 
 however, that there has been but one Dr. Chalmers ; one John Wesley ; 
 one Guthrie ; one Robertson ; one Spurgeon ; one Moody. These 
 mighty men declared the whole counsel of God and lead many to Christ 
 because justice as well as love was their theme. 
 
 The year 1852 finds Rev. Wm. M. Martin our pastor. We remem- 
 ber him as an active, earnest man, whose life was godly and whose end 
 was peace. 
 
 In 1863 a call was extended to Rev. George C. Lucas. He remained 
 
 33 
 
with us ten years He was a fine sermonizer and a scholarly man. 
 Every one of these devines enumerated have been gathered home, 
 reminding us that 
 
 1 ' The Battle of our Life is brief, 
 The alarm — the struggle— the relief, 
 Then sleep we by their side. ' ' 
 
 REV. WILLIAM M MARTIN. 
 
 We are under the leadership of our present pastor who has been 
 with us since 1874. Intellectual, eloquent, sympathetic, a man of lofty 
 ideas, he needs no word from me to remind you of his true worth. 
 
 Thank God the simple gospel story is still heard in this hallowed 
 
 place to-day. Never must it be, with such a long line of spiritual 
 
 ancestry behind us, that sublimated moonshine or the commandments 
 
 and traditions of men shall be proclaimed to satisfy the longings of 
 
 the immortal soul For the lives lived by all oi these godly men 
 
 prove, that 
 
 " The liappincss of human kind, 
 
 Consists — in rectitude of mind, — 
 
 A 7c'/// — subdued to reason's sway, 
 
 And passions practised to obey; 
 
 An open — and a generous heart, 
 
 Refind from selfishness and art; 
 
 Patience which nioeks at fortunes power, 
 
 And wisdom neither sad nor sour." 
 
 34 
 
REV. GEORGE C. LUCAS. 
 
 THE ELDERS OF THE PAST. 
 
 WILLIAM EDGAR 
 
 The subject is a broad one, and one to which I scarcely feel able 
 to do justice. I feel inadequate to exalt the office as it should be, to 
 emphasize its importance, and to convince myself and others of its great 
 responsibility, and to give the reason why it is not magnified and re- 
 spected as it once was. But this was not contemplated in this brief 
 paper. 
 
 I am to speak of those who bore the ark of this ancient tabernacle 
 in its earlier days ; the Aarons and Hurs who upheld the hands of God's 
 chosen servants, who ministered to this people in Spiritual things. 
 
 I can give but a brief sketch of a few of the men, and view them 
 from their environments and the activities which characterized their lives 
 in those days that tried men' s souls. They were Christian citizens, and as 
 such we honor their memory. This town was cradled in piety, its name 
 would indicate that, the friends and admirers of Rev. John Woodbridge, 
 of Newbury, Mass., conferred that honor from the love and esteem in 
 which they held their pastor. 
 
 35 
 
Among the first things the founders did was to locate a site for a 
 Meeting House, and set aside a tract of land to be used for the support 
 of a Gospel Ministry, and ecclesiastic matters received as much attention 
 at the Annual Town Meeting as did taxation and kindred public affairs, 
 and forty years after when Church and State were separated we find 
 that the prominent men in the settlement were chosen rulers in the 
 Church. In my efforts to obtain the necessary data I had access to the 
 church and town records, but the bare facts only are mentioned and I had 
 either to draw on my imagination or resort to that never- failing source 
 of material that the historian uses to embelish the pages of his work 
 ''family traditions," but in this field I was confronted with the question 
 " art thou an Elder and knowest not these things." 
 
 In yonder cemetery, in mam T an unmarked grave, " the rude fore- 
 fathers of the hamlet sleep." Samuel Hale, John Pike and Noah 
 Bishop, "if memory o'er their tombs no trophies raise, " their names 
 should not be forgotten, for the record reads the foundation of ye church 
 was laid upon them. Samuel Hale was one of the original settlers, a 
 military officer, Marshal of the Court and Justice of the Peace ; his ser- 
 vices in connection with the latter position must have been sought after 
 by those matrimonially inclined, for the town records contain many 
 entries. ' ' Married by me. Samuel Hale, Justice. ' ' He was not the only 
 justice, but there must have been something that attracted the young, 
 perhaps his benignant countenance relieved their embarrassment and his 
 smile and salutation was a benediction. We find that he with other 
 prominent men were entrusted with the solution of difficult problems in 
 those early davs from which we would infer that he was a man of sound 
 judgment and commanded the respect of his associates. His residence 
 was on the south side of Green Street, between the railroad and Central 
 Avenue. He died in 1710, in his seventieth year, leaving no son, the 
 name became extinct. 
 
 John Pike was one of the most prominent men of the original fifty- 
 seven. He was one of the three signers to the articles of agreement of 
 May 21, 1666, between Governor Carteret for the Lord's proprietors on 
 the one hand and for himself and associates on the other. Among the 
 privileges granted in that agreement, w 7 as liberty of conscience in relig- 
 ious worship, of choosing their own minister and two hundred acres of 
 land was to be set apart for the maintenance of the ministry perpetually. 
 Three years after the township court was established, and for four years 
 he was the chief justice or president, he was commander of the military 
 although net a very large force, but a very important and necessary 
 organization in those days. He lived on the what is now known as the 
 Valentine farm and operated a mill near Cutter' s dock. He was a mem- 
 
 36 
 
ber of the first town committee which consisted of seven members. A 
 large family of sons survived him, who in their day became illustrious. 
 
 Noah Bishop resided near Railway, and was the town torrester or 
 custodian of the public timber lands in that locality, he appears in con- 
 nection with legal proceedings that were instituted against those who 
 infringed on the public domain. The family w 7 ere influencial and were 
 identified with all public matters. 
 
 Thomas Pike, the son of John, was the fourth Town Clerk, and 
 held the office for eighteen years. He was rate-maker or assessor for 
 ten years, and like his father represented the town for a number of 
 years in the Assembly. His prominence was not due to his father's 
 popularity but to his own ability. He with John Ford were ' ' set apart ' ' 
 as Elders in 1710, and elected Deacons the same year. Ford was prob- 
 ably the founder of the family at Ford's Corner. He did not hold any 
 elective office, but was prominent in ecclesiastic matters in the stormy 
 days of Mr. Wade's pastorate, probably on account of his discretion and 
 wisdom ; pouring oil on the troubled waters meriting the blessing of the 
 peace- makers. 
 
 In 1 717, Rev. John Piersou became the pastor and continued for 
 thirty-eight years ; there are no sessional records during his pastorate, 
 the names and the acts of the ruling elders of that period are a part of 
 the records of the church triumphant, which will be known to all men 
 when the books shall be opened. 
 
 In 1756 the church secured a royal charter and Elders David Dun- 
 ham and Dr. Moses Bloomfield are mentioned as trustees in the docu- 
 ment. Dr. Bloomfield was a man of more than ordinary culture and 
 ability ; his patriotism w r as fervent inducing to offer his services to his 
 country at an early period of the war. He was the father of Governor 
 Joseph Bloomfield, and probably lived on what is known as the Hance 
 place. His body was placed to rest near the church. A stone with the 
 following inscription marks the spot : 
 
 ' ' Dr. Moses Bloomfield, Forty years a Physician and Surgeon in 
 this town ; Senior Physician and Surgeon in the Hospitals of the United 
 States. Representative in the Provincial Congress. An upright 
 magistrate and elder in the Presbyterian Church." 
 
 A brief record, but an eloquent tribute. 
 
 For the first twenty-eight years of Dr. Roe's pastorate, the period 
 during the Revolution, we find no sessional minutes. 
 
 After the dissolution of the union between the churches of Wood- 
 bridge and Metuchen, which occurred in 1793, the records are resumed 
 The session consisted of George Harriot, Joseph Crowel, Campyon 
 Cutter and Jonathan Bloomfield. 
 
 37 
 
Ephriam Harriot and Jonathan Freeman were added in 1803. The 
 latter, the father of the late Dr. E. B. Freeman, was the architect and 
 builder of the present edifice which has stood for nearly a century a 
 monument to his genius. He died in 1843, and an item on the minutes 
 reads, " an honored and respected member of this body, fifty-seven years 
 a member of the church, and forty years a ruling elder." 
 
 In the early days of the century discipline in the Presbyterian 
 Church was not a dead letter. The churches authority was respected 
 and enforced. The minutes contain the records of many citations and 
 trials. Elders were appointed to endeavor in love to restore the erring 
 
 ISAAC S. PAYNE. 
 
 one, and we read of confession, contrition and restoration. These 
 occasions, and the results, gives us a glimpse at the character of the 
 Elders. 
 
 Ever jealous of the reputation of church members the Elders in a 
 number of instances cited their associates to answer charges brought 
 against them personally, or by common report, and they were even 
 asked to stand aside from the Communion Table until the charges could 
 be investigated. Physician heal thyself could not be demanded of 
 them. 
 
 The faith held and practiced by the Fathers was transmitted to the 
 
 38 
 
sons, they brought them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, 
 many succeeding to a worthy inheritance. John Pike was followed by 
 Thomas, Joseph Bloomfield by Moses, David Harriot by Ephriam. David 
 N. Demarest by Henry N. William Cutter by Ephraim, Thomas 
 Morris by Thomas Harvey. Many grew gray in the service and were 
 vertible fathers in Israel Joseph Crowel, Campyon Cutter, Major 
 William Cutter and Francis Cutter of the first half of the century. Their 
 associates, although their term of service was not so long, yet they 
 left their imprint upon the church, Joseph Barron the father of Thomas 
 Barron, the founder of our public library, John E. Barron, termed the 
 good, the devout Ephriam Cutter and Joseph Conklin, the humble 
 John Pryor. We, of to-day, cherish the hallowed recollections of David 
 N. Demarest, who for so many years gathered the lambs of the fold in 
 the Sabbath-school ; of the faithful James P. Edgar, his successor, and 
 who led the songs of Zion ; of T. H. Morris, of sainted memory, who 
 was Uncle Harvey to all of us ; of the genial Henry Demarest who, 
 though years crowned his brow, retained his joyous youthful ways. 
 
 Cotemporary with these and linking the present with the past are 
 Isaac S. Payne and William H. Brown, uniting with the church in the 
 revival of 1843, they were set apart to the Eldership, the former in 1852, 
 the latter in 1854. Fifty-seven years members of the church, and forty- 
 eight and forty-six years, respectively, Ruling Elders. A record unpre- 
 cedented in the church's history. 
 
 These, through faith, obtained a good report, and are entered into 
 the rest that is prepared for the people of God. We should emulate 
 their devotion and loyalty to the church, and the Master so that by our 
 efforts the future of this dear old church shall be grander than the past. 
 
 OUR FOUNDERS. 
 
 MARCUS A. BROWN. 
 
 Our founders, who were they ? 
 
 Among them we find the names of Cutter, Brewster, Barron, Edgar, 
 Harriot, Brown, Coddington, Crow, Potter, Freeman, Hadden, Bloom- 
 field, Paton, Dunham, Jaques, Laing, Dunn, Tappen and many others, 
 w T ho having worshiped in a building that was going to decay, having 
 stood more than a century, being built in 1675, they realized the neces- 
 sity of having a suitable place in which to worship. In April, 1803, a 
 new building was undertaken with great ' 4 unanimity and spirit. ' ' It 
 
 39 
 
was almost finished by Fall, and opened and consecrated in the begin- 
 ning of December, and the structure still stands to-day on the meeting 
 house green, a building sixty-six by forty-six feet, with posts twenty- 
 four feet high, and enclosed with shingles. A monument to our found- 
 ers, who shall measure the influence that has been exerted on this com- 
 munity by the fact of this church standing so long ? Who can doubt 
 that even in its silence it has ever stood as a witness of the importance 
 our founders attached to religion, ' ' For Christ and the Church. ' ' Who 
 of us, as we look at its symetry and its acoustic properties, such as few 
 modern churches possess, do not feel that they were directed by a power 
 higher than man? Who, of us, as we tread the aisles, through which 
 they in their ministrations walked with uncovered heads, do not consider 
 it an honor that to-day we are privileged to worship in the house they 
 built? Who, of us, as we paitake of the Holy Communion, and renew 
 our vows in the same place, where they, with bowed heads and uplifted 
 hearts did the same, shall not say surely God has been with us ? Who, 
 of us, shall not say as with reverence in prayer we invoke the Divine 
 aid, blessing and forgiveness that our prayers and our songs of praise 
 do not mingle with theirs at the great white Throne. All honor, I say, 
 to our founders who gave of their time, of their means, and in their 
 great manhood and Christian characters laid the strong foundation and 
 erected this building which to-day points its steeple heavenward, direct- 
 ing us to the place they have gone, and to which we aspire. Surely 
 we, too, can say they builded better than they knew. 
 
 THE REVOLUTIONARY HEROES. 
 
 ELLIS B. FREEMAN. 
 
 The roll of the Revolutionary Heroes of the old Church is one of 
 which she need not be ashamed. LTpon that roll appears the names of 
 the decendants of many of those fir^t fifty-seven settlers to whom 
 patents were granted in 1670, or thereabouts, thus proving to the world 
 that the lessons taught by the fathers were not forgotten, nor unheeded 
 by the children. They began to be restive and to show their metal as 
 early as 1765. In that year, as you all know, the English Government 
 passed the Stamp act, an act by which, as you also know, all legal 
 papers and documents were null and void unless they were executed 
 upon stamped paper, for which a duty was exacted. The opposition 
 to this act among the American Colonists was so violent that no stamp 
 
 40 
 
office felt safe in attempting to enforce it. In all the Colonies the 
 patriots formed themselves into organizations to which was given the 
 name "Sons of Liberty." The Stamp act was to go into operation on 
 the first of November, 1765. The Woodbridge " Sons of Liberty," 
 and their neighbors from Piscataway took titte by the forelock and 
 sent a delegation to William Coxe of Philadelphia, immediately upon 
 the receipt of the news of his appointment as Stamp Distributor for 
 New Jersey, to tell him that if his office was not closed within a week 
 the organization would visit him in force with very unpleasant con- 
 sequences to himself. The atmosphere suddenly became so blue in the 
 immediate neighborhood of Mr. Coxe that it was impossible for him to 
 see his way clearly to retain the office He, therefore, resigned it early 
 in September, 1765. All honor to those brave "Sons of Liberty." 
 Would that we had their names to publish upon the scroll of fame. 
 Ten years later when the news from Lexington passed like a whirlwind 
 over the land, it found the Woodbridge men ready and waiting to go to 
 the defence of their country. Many of them faced the enemy upon the 
 battlefield, and willingly bled and died in defence of all they held dear. 
 Others fulfilled their part and performed their duty in the grand 
 struggle by undergoing imprisonment in loathsome prisons, and by the 
 confiscation and destruction of their property. On an occasion like this, 
 time will not permit us to do more than barely call the roll of those 
 dead, but not forgotten heroes. The following roll is made up partly 
 from Adjutant-General Striker's roster, tradition, etc., as given in Daily's 
 history. It is not claimed for it that it is perfect, but it is as near 
 perfect as it can be made at the present time. It includes both those 
 that were in the Continental Army and those who served in the State 
 Militia : 
 
 Archibald Alger. 
 
 Ellis Barron, a Captain of First Regiment of Middlesex, commis- 
 sioned January 10, 1776 
 
 Shotwell Bishop, he lived at Short Hills 
 
 James Bloomfield, resided in Woodbridge, died in Milton. 
 
 Ezekiel Bloomfield. 
 
 Robert Burwell, belonged to Captain Asher Fitz Randolph's Com- 
 pany, resided in Rahway Neck, near George Brown's. 
 
 Jonathan Bloomfield. 
 
 Nathan Bloomfield, resided near Bonhamtown. 
 
 Thomas Bloomfield, Sr., called "Continental Tommy." 
 
 Thomas Bloomfield, Jr., said to have been imprisoned in the Jersey 
 Prison Ship at one time. He died where Henry Yandervere now resides. 
 
 4i 
 
Benjamin Brown, grandfather of Judge A. D. Brown, lived on the 
 Woodbridge Neck. 
 
 Dugald Campbell, lived near Oak Tree, died in 1809, aged 77, 
 buried at Metuehen. 
 
 Joseph Crowell. 
 
 Kelsey Cutter, died in Woodbridge, March 7, 1798, aged 42. 
 
 Samuel Cutter was in several of the boat expeditions made by 
 Captain John Store}', and was one of his favorites. 
 
 Stephen Cutter, taken prisoner by British at one time and carried 
 to Staten Island, died in Woodbridge, June 21, 1823, aged 78, lived 
 near Cutter's Dock. 
 
 Ford Cutter, born 1757, died 181 7, from injuries received in the 
 batt'e c f Monmouth Court House. 
 
 Morris DeCamp, Sergeant in Sheldon's Light Dragoons, was 
 wounded on Staten Island on August 23, 1777. 
 
 Joseph Dunham, belonged to Captain Asher F. Randolph's Company. 
 
 James Edgar, a private in Middlesex Militia. 
 
 William Edgar. 
 
 Ambrose Elston was a Middlesex County Judge. 
 
 Crowell Evans. 
 
 Captain Asher Fitz Randolph lived at the old Blazing Star, on what 
 is now the Sawyer property. His house was of brick, and was called 
 the Fort. It was torn down by the late Capta n Tufts to give place to 
 pre-ent residence. He did excellent and effective work with his com- 
 pany during the war. He died April 16, 1817 at the age of 62. He 
 served as Ensign under Captain Matthew Freeman at the beginning of 
 his career, then as one of his Lieutenants, and subsequently left Free- 
 man's Company for a Captaincy in Major Hayes' Battalion. He was 
 the great-grandfather of Mr. Everts F. Randolph. 
 
 Jonathan Freeman was first a private in Captain Morgan's Com- 
 pany of the Second Middlesex Regiment and afterwards in Captain 
 Nixon' s troop of light horse. He was robbed of his household goods 
 and had a fine horse shot. Besides him there were eleven others of the 
 Freeman family privates in the Middlesex Militia. Jonathan was the 
 grandfather of the writer. 
 
 David Freeman, private in Middlesex Militia. 
 
 Jedediah Freeman, private in Captain David Edgar's troop. 
 
 Melanchton Freeman, surgeon, died November 11, 1806, in his 
 60th year, buried in the old Metuehen cemetery. 
 
 Captain Matthew Freeman, died in 1824, aged about 81 years. 
 He was made Second Lieutenant First Regiment Middlesex Militia, 
 January, 1776, and afterwards became captain. 
 
 42 
 
Samuel Faree, private Middlesex Militia. 
 
 Hiram Frazer lived near Six Roads. 
 
 Morris Frazer lived between Oak Tree and Plain field. 
 
 Esich Fitz Randolph, Ezekiel Malachi and Michael belonged to 
 Captain Asher F. Randolph's Company. The Fitz Randolph family 
 was one of the most patriotic of the war. Among those going to battle 
 from this section we find beside those just mentioned Barzilla, Daniel, 
 James, Jcseph, Stelle, Phineas, Samuel, Thomas, Zedikel and others. 
 
 John and Joseph Gilman belonged to Captain David Edgar's Troop 
 of Light Horse. 
 
 Charles Gilman, private Middlesex Militia. 
 
 Thomas Hadden, Captain in First Regiment Middlesex Militia, then 
 Major, and in April, 1778, he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, 
 but resigned in December of same year. 
 
 Samuel Jaquish, 
 
 James Kinsey, Sr., discharged for disability January 3, 1783. 
 Served seven years. 
 
 James Kinsey, Jr., John Kinsey, an artilleryman, and Shadrach 
 Kinsey. 
 
 Ehphalet Moore, Second Regiment Artillery Continental Army, 
 Jived in Rah way Neck. 
 
 Captain Christopher Marsh belonged to Essex Light Horse, but 
 lived between Six Roads and Milton. 
 
 Ralph Marsh made First Lieutenant in Captain Ellis Barron's Com- 
 pany, January 10, 1776. 
 
 Merrick Martin (a number of Martin's), residing in this section, 
 were soldiers in the Revolution. Many of them lived at or near 
 Metuchen. 
 
 Peter Noe, private, lived at Blazing Star. Several other Noe's of 
 this section fought for freedom. Died September 2, 18 19, aged 69. 
 
 James Noe belonged to A. F. Randolph's Company. 
 
 Captain Zebulon Pike was a cornet in Moylan's Regiment of Conti- 
 nentals in March, 1777, an d Adjutant on November 1st, a Lieutentant 
 March 15, 1778, then paymaster, and finally Captain, December 25, 
 1778. 
 
 Captain Richard Skinner of the First Regiment Militia was killed 
 July 1 st, 1779, at the Six Roads Tavern. 
 
 Samuel Willis was one of Captain A. F. Randolph's Company. He 
 lived between Houghtenville and New Dover. 
 
 Captain Nathaniel F. Randolph was a Captain of the Middlesex 
 Militia at first, and was elected Naval Officer for the Eastern Di^tr.ct of 
 New Jersey on the 12th of December, 1778. The day before this elec- 
 
 43 
 
tion the council ordered that a sword should be purchased for him as a 
 fitting tribute to "his patriotism, vigilence and bravery during the 
 war/' which was subsequently presented to him. He died of the 
 wounds received at or near Springfield, N. J., on the 23rd of June, 
 his death occuring just one month afterwards, July 23rd, 1780. He 
 was once married to Experience Inslee, afterwards the wife of James 
 Coddington. He left no children. 
 
 Captain David Edgar was another Woodbridge hero He was a 
 Lieutenant for a while in General Nathaniel Heard's Brigade, but his 
 reputation (military) was gained largely during his connection with 
 Sheldon's Dragoons. In May, 1778, Captain Edgar was the leader in 
 an affair which his Commanding General, Brigadier-General Smallvvood 
 of the Maryland line characterized as an act of extraodinary gallantry. 
 It was as follows, viz., he and five of his dragoons made an assault 
 upon a vessel that was under sail on her way to Philadelphia with 
 provisions for the British, and captured it. So far as the writer has 
 any knowledge there is only one other similar incident on record, and 
 that happened during the Yenezuelian war of independence from Spain. 
 In that case the Yenzuelian General Paez with a troop of lancers 
 attacked a Spanish Gunboat that was lying at anchor in the middle of a 
 river, and captured it, although the gunboat w T as heavily armed and 
 manned. Captain Edgar died September 6, 18 10, in his 60th year. 
 
 Samuel Dally and his son Jeremiah, w T ere also Woodbridge men 
 and s >ldiers in the first Middlesex Militia. Samuel fought at one time 
 under the leadership of Washington. He was one of the faithful who 
 crossed the Delaware in mid-winter to surprise the He-sians at Trenton. 
 He also fought at Monmouth. He died March 9, 1784 in his 53rd 
 year. 
 
 These are some, but not all of the Revolutionary Heroes of the old 
 Church. Time will not permit me to mention but two more, which, 
 although left until the last are by no means the least upon the roll of 
 honor. The first of these were Dr Azel Roe, the Pastor of the Church. 
 He was a man of commanding presence, and excellent address ; a brilliant 
 preacher, and a most fervent patriot, warmly aiding the cause of liberty 
 by voice and action. It is said of him that on one occasion he incited 
 some of his flock to assist a company of Continental troops in attacking 
 some British soldiers near Blazing Star. He was in this skirmish him- 
 self. The result is unknown. His patriotism was of the kind that 
 gained for him the distinction of being considered by the British as 
 worthy of the hospitality of the old Sugar House Prison, and after 
 several ineffectual attempts, they finall} 7 succeeded in getting him there. 
 It is said that on the way to the prison the British officer, who had 
 
 44 
 
charge of him, offered to carry the rather portly and reverend gentlemen 
 across a small ford. With true ministerial regard for his shoes and 
 stockings, the preacher bestrode the back of his amiable escort, at the 
 same time remarking: "Well, sir, you can say after this that you 
 were once 'priest ridden ' He died the 2nd day of December, 1815, 
 in the 77th year of his age, and the fifty-third of his ministry. 
 
 Dr. Moses Bloomfield is the last of the two left for the ending of 
 this roll of honor. He was a man of more than ordinary culture and 
 ability. His patriotism was fervent, and he offered his services to his 
 country at a very early period of the war (May 14, 1777. ) The follow- 
 ing inscription upon his tombstone tells the story of his life : 
 
 ' ' Dr. Moses Bloomfield, 
 40 years Physician and Surgeon 
 in this town ; Senior Physician and Surgeon 
 in the Hospitals of the United States ; Rep- 
 resentative in the Provincial Congress and 
 General Assembly ; an upright Magistrate ; 
 Elder of the Presbyterian Church, etc. , etc. 
 Born 
 December the 4th, 1729. 
 Deceased 
 August the 14th, 1 79 1, in his 63rd year." 
 
 The Revolutionary Heroes : they fought well ; they labored well. 
 May they sleep well, and their labors never be forgotten. 
 
 THE WOMEN OF THE CHURCH— PAST AND PRESENT. 
 
 MRS. JOEL MEEICK. 
 
 In our grand old State of New Jersey, few churches can boast of 
 vSuch antiquity as the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge. It 
 has always been characterized by its zeal and Christian activity, and it 
 owes its prosperity and perpetuity largely to its women. 
 
 There are two dates confronting us to-night, and both are unfamiliar. 
 1900 is strange to us yet, and really seems like a new acquaintance, an 
 untried friend. 1675 seems very remote indeed, and as the mind runs 
 back over all these years one can scarcely imagine or conjecture how 
 the church was organized and carried on at that early period. 
 
 45 
 
We come down a century to 1775, and begin to feel that possibly 
 those of that time were real live men and women, and were related to us 
 in some very remote w T ay. Another century brings us to 1875; we 
 breathe more freely, and feel that our feet are on solid ground ; many 
 who are here can recall with much pride and pleasure our Bi-Ceutennial 
 Celebration in that year. 
 
 The records of 1675 are very brief and scant, but we believe the 
 women in this Church then were true and loyal to it, abounding in 
 good works : and, so to-night I would reach out the hand of good fellow- 
 ship, and say : ' ' All honor to the women of the Seventeenth Century ! 
 All praise and gratitude to the women of the Eighteenth Century ! All 
 hail ! peace and good- will to the women of the Nineteenth Century ! ' ' 
 
 A few months ago when a sister church in Railway, celebrated its 
 thirty-fifth anniversary, there were numerous able addresses. Towards 
 the close of one of the services an elderly gentleman spoke and made 
 this pertinent remark, "We have heard a great deal this evening about 
 what ' he did ' and ' he said, ' but I can tell you if it had not been for the 
 she's there would not be any church here to celebrate." 
 
 And it is so in most churches. The women are in the majority 
 both in church membership, and in the general attendance upon the 
 regular services. There may be one exception to this in the Parish 
 meeting, as for mam' years this meeting was regarded as being exclu- 
 sively for the mail members of the congregation, but now that all the 
 congregation are invited, and urged to attend this important meeting, a 
 fevv years will suffice, and we shall see the women in the majority here 
 also, and who knows but soon we shall find a Deaconess, serving side 
 by side with the Deacons, and filling her place equally well. Why not? 
 
 When there is real, patient, plodding work to be done of whom is 
 it expected ? Of the women most decidedly ; and, I am sure those of 
 this church have never faltered, or thrown aside their responsibility. 
 
 And where can women find more ennobling work than in the home 
 and the church ? And one is the outgrowth of the other. What 
 higher intellectual position can women hope for, than that which nature 
 has assigned to her ? 
 
 What more ennobling, and elevated sphere can she ever obtain, 
 than the God given mission of training the youthful mind, and thus 
 forming characters which shall rule the world ? By the home fireside, 
 at the mother's knee, the seeds of religion are sown ; they are nurtured, 
 into bloom in the Sabbath- school, and bears fruit in the church. In the 
 home where Christ is a living presence, the home ties are usually very 
 strong. Parents and children, brothers and sisters are bound together 
 by the most endearing buds, became that love which " seeketh not its 
 
 46 
 
own," "bears one anothers burdens," " suffereth long and is kind," 
 prevaileth here, and this is the ideal home, from it springs the ideal 
 church. 
 
 This particular church has always been conspicuous for its good 
 works, and Dorcas, Lois, Eunice and Mary and Martha, all have their 
 followers here. 
 
 Our old familiar Bible was the gift of a woman, Miss Catherine 
 Hadden. Our first collection plates also were given by Mrs. Eliza 
 Harriot. The Baptismal cup was donated by Mrs. Campy on Cutter, 
 mother of Mrs. Patton, and Mrs. Patton was one of three women who 
 organized the first Sabbath-school here, and was one of its first teachers. 
 
 In 1856 a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was organized with 
 the following officers : First Directress, Mrs. David N. Demarest ; 
 Second Directress, Mrs. Martha Freeman ; Third Directress, Mrs. John 
 Lawrence; Secretary, Mrs. A. A. Edgar; Treasurer, Mrs E. A. 
 Barron. Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Barron are the two surviving officers, 
 and have always been identified with the church work in many ways. 
 I hope both are well enough to be with us on this anniversary evening. 
 Mrs. Martha Freeman took the charge for many years of the Commun- 
 ion Service, and prepared and supplied the necessary elements for the 
 celebration of the Lord's Supper. In this Missionary Society the 
 women sewed for any one who wanted such work done, meeting every 
 two weeks at the house of some member. The membership fee was 2 5 
 cents per year and males became honorary members upon the payment 
 of 50 cents. The basket, for holding the sewing in this Society, was 
 donated by Mrs. Eliza Harriot, and still used for that purpose. Funds 
 were raised at one time by soliciting membership fees at one dollar per 
 year, and the money expended for a scholarship in Syria, as well as for 
 the Sidou Building. About sixty dollars was raised each year in this 
 way, until an Auxiliary Society was formed in connection with the 
 Elizabeth Presbyterial Society. This was in '72. The officers of that 
 society were : 
 
 President, Mrs. George C. Lucas. 
 Vice-President, Miss S. Anna Cutter. 
 Secretary, Miss Mary Harriet Cutter. 
 Treasurer, Miss Phebe Freeman. 
 
 There were $50 a year raised for twelve years for a scholarship 
 in Sukel Grub Training School, Syria. Now, the money is devoted to 
 educational work, medical missions and other objects. In June, 1881, 
 our Pastor, Rev. J. M. McNulty, invited the women of the church to 
 meet at the Lecture room. After a brief prayer, he stated the meeting 
 
 47 
 
was called at the suggestion of Mrs. Wm. M. Martin, whose memory is 
 dear to all of us, to consider the work of Home Missions. A society 
 was formed at that date, with the hope of creating more interest in the 
 Home Mission fields. These two missionary societies worked on amid 
 many discouragements, still they lived, and did good work (if I only 
 had time to tell you of them) until February, 1884, when it was decided 
 to unite the two in one society, to be known as the "Home and Foreign 
 Missionary Society of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge." 
 
 Since 1 89 1 the method of raising funds has been by weekly offerings, 
 and once a year holding a Prayer and Praise Service In this manner 
 more money has been realized, and more interest created. In 1862, a 
 church Aid Society was formed by Mrs. Wm. M. Martin. The officers 
 were : 
 
 First Directress, Mrs. A. A. Edgar. 
 Second Directress, Mrs. Dr. Freeman. 
 Third Directress, Miss Maggie Prall. 
 Treasurer, Miss Phebe Freeman. 
 Secretary, Miss K. C. Barron. 
 
 The object to work for a fair, the proceeds to be devoted to the pur- 
 chase of a musical instrument. The women met at the home of 
 some member every Thursday afternoon. The gentlemen met in the 
 evening for the social part of the meetings. 
 
 They continued this Society for many years, working for the inter- 
 est and improvement of the Church, always ready to lend a helping hand 
 in every good work, until February, 1891, when it w 7 as decided to unite 
 this Society with the consolidated Missionary Societies, and work under 
 the direction of one corps of officers, and at this time the experiment of 
 raising money by weekly offerings, adopted by this Society also. 
 
 It has been a success. For the past three years the weekly offer- 
 ings and the donations have enabled them to do away with entertain- 
 ments entirely. The present officers of this Society are : 
 
 President, Mrs. J. M. McNulty. 
 
 Vice-President, Miss Anna Coddington. 
 
 Secretary, Miss Edith Scott. 
 
 Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. J. F. Clarkson. 
 
 Treasurer, Miss S. Anna Cutter. 
 
 Financial Secretary, Miss Susie Freeman. 
 
 During Rev. Mr. Martin's pastorate, a Mother's Meeting was 
 instituted by Mrs Strael. These were held at the Parsonage. A Mother's 
 
 48 
 
Prayer Meeting. I have no doubt there are others here besides the 
 writer who remember these meetings. I can recall most vividly how, as 
 a little child, I went with my sainted mother to these meetings. I pre- 
 sume they all felt I was too young to be influenced by them to any 
 great degree, but I can never forget the impression those meetings made 
 on my childish heart. Mother's meeting to pray for their children, and 
 the influence emanating therefrom has lasted even unto the present 
 hour. 
 
 In 1874, at the suggestion of Mrs. B. A. Barron, the " Lillies of 
 the Field " Mission Band was organized with a membership of thirteen, 
 in the interest of Foreign Missions, Mrs. William H. Cutter being its 
 President. The interest in this Society has been unusual ; brave young 
 hearts who meet difficulties without feeling the discouragements that 
 older ones often do, have carried it on, and every year we hear the most 
 encouraging reports of the blossoming of the "Lillies. " In 1886 this 
 Society was reorganized, and a Home and Foreign Missionary Society 
 formed, and it is still crowned with success. Its officers now are all 
 young women who have grown up with the Society, and been identified 
 with it from childhood. No wonder it is successful. 
 
 Its present officers are : 
 
 President, Mrs. John Breckenridge. 
 Vice-President, Miss Louise Brewster. 
 Secretary, Miss Anna Hart. 
 Treasurer, Miss Laura Cutter. 
 
 These statistics seem necessary just to give you a glimpse of some 
 of the work done by the women of this church. 
 
 There are also a number of the women of our church who are 
 interested workers in that great and most intensely interesting cause of 
 temperance. This cause appeals most essentially to the hearts of women 
 because they are directly or indirectly the greatest sufferers from intem- 
 perance. How sad a contemplation is it " that no man liveth to him- 
 self. ' ' If the laws of health or temperance are violated the effects reach 
 out and touch other lives and hearts. The influence of wrong doing: 
 cannot rest upon one person, it must effect others ; but if this thought 
 is sad there is another side to it, which is bright and full of cheer. All 
 good deeds have an influence also upon those with whom we are in 
 touch, and so, dear sisters working in this noble cause, we would bid 
 you ' ' God-speed, God bless you ! ' ' Although this is the greatest evil: 
 that is sapping the life of our church to-day, and through the churclx, 
 
 49 
 
our fair land as well, yet we bid you remember, all great deeds and 
 grand attainments are gained through suffering and self-sacrifice. 
 Though the clouds may be heavy now, there is sunshine beyond. 
 
 There are other women also of our church who are doing a good 
 work in the Society of the " King's Daughters," a most loveable work, 
 assisting the helpless, raising the fallen, caring for the dying, speaking 
 the words of comfort to the sad and despairing heart, and all ' ' In His 
 Name. ' ' 
 
 And who can tell of the many, many noble deeds done by the 
 women here that shall never be known until the books are opened and 
 our lives are revealed. 
 
 Most of the statistics given here to-night have been gathered by one 
 of the faithful women of this church, at the expense of much time, 
 strength and patience, but she loves her dear old church, as we all do, 
 and so it was a labor of love. I refer to Miss S. Anna Cutter. The 
 Church Aid Society also owes its present existence to this same woman. 
 It was at one time very near dissolution. A division in the church 
 caused a division of officers, and she as the Vice-President was forced 
 into the President's chair with all its duties and responsibilities, but she 
 proved herself equal to the occasion ; she rallied her friends around her, 
 and the crisis was safely passed and the society lived on. 
 
 Years have come and gone. Change is written upon even' face, 
 as well as upon all the appointments of the dear old church, but life and 
 its responsibilities — the church with its duties and privileges — are reali- 
 ties to-day. And are not the women of to-day just as earnest, and 
 willing to give of their time, strength, and influence, as those of years 
 ago? 
 
 The facts given to-night assure us they are. 
 
 The mantles of the great-great grandmothers have fallen upon the 
 daughters, generation after generation. Receive yours, dear sisters, as a 
 precious legacy ; guard it with jealous care, that it may be handed 
 down to our posterity by the society of this church, whose women are 
 unsurpassed. 
 
 A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be "praised." Give 
 her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the 
 gates. A. E. MKLICK. 
 
 May Thirtieth, Nineteen Hundred. 
 
 50 
 
A paper was circulated in April, 1802. The money was to be 
 applied to the erection of a Presbyterian Church, "nearly where the 
 old one stands," to be sixty-six by forty-six feet, with posts twenty-four 
 feet high and enclosed with shingles. 
 
 Here is the list of subscribers: 
 
 Campyon Cutter 
 
 .. $ 250.00 
 
 Crowell Hadden 
 
 . $ 40.00 
 25.00 
 
 Timothy Brewster. . . . 
 
 250.00 
 
 Morris Reed 
 
 Joseph Barron 
 
 250 00 
 
 Thomas Jackson 
 
 30.00 
 100.00 
 
 William Edgar, J r 
 
 200.00 
 
 Daniel B. Moores 
 
 Samuel Harriot, Jr. . . . 
 
 25.00 
 
 Peter W. Gallaudet... 
 
 20.00 
 
 John Brown 
 
 100.00 
 
 Joseph Bloomfield 
 
 100.00 
 
 John Barron 
 
 100.00 
 
 Clarkson Edgar 
 
 200.00 
 
 David Edgar 
 
 I OO. CO 
 
 Henry Dunham 
 
 10 00 
 
 James Edgar 
 
 100.00 
 
 James Smith 
 
 200.00 
 
 Samuel Brown 
 
 40.00 
 
 Thomas Edgar 
 
 150.00 
 
 Robert Moores 
 
 50.00 
 
 Elias Thomson 
 
 20.00 
 
 James Coddington 
 
 20.00 
 
 David Tappen 
 
 20 00 
 
 Ephraim Harriot 
 
 SO 00 
 
 Ichabod Potter 
 
 100.00 
 
 Robert Coddington..., 
 
 30.00 
 
 Alexander Edgar 
 
 40.00 
 
 Samuel Cutter 
 
 40.00 
 
 James Paton 
 
 John Manning 
 
 100 00 
 
 Philip Brown 
 
 80 00 
 
 60.00 
 
 Israel Dissosway 
 
 50.00 
 
 James Brown, Jr 
 
 50.00 
 
 Edward Munda}^ 
 
 20.00 
 
 Jonatham Coddington. . 
 
 15.00 
 
 Richard Wright 
 
 Foreman Brown 
 
 150.00 
 60.00 
 
 Thomas Acken 
 
 6.00 
 
 Dr. Jos. Griffith 
 
 10.00 
 
 Ellis Crow 
 
 2 ^ 00 
 
 Samuel Jaques 
 
 5.00 
 s.oo 
 
 Isaac Potter 
 
 ^0 00 
 
 William Eaing 
 
 Jonathan Freeman 
 
 100.00 
 
 Seth Dunn 
 
 16.00 
 
 John Conway 
 
 100.00 
 
 
 
 $3,522.00 
 
 The following statement of the financial manager, David Edgar, 
 will be interesting to our readers : 
 
 Dr. The Parish of Woodbridge, in account with David Edgar, Cr 
 1803-4. 
 
 To sundry payments to the hands by moneys collected and due on 
 the subscription for 
 
 5i 
 
£ s. p. 
 
 Receipts for work, 712 1 o 
 To sundry p'ym'ts 
 
 for material, etc., 1,221 3 o 
 Com. at 3% 58 o o 
 
 Int. on money adr. , 1700 
 
 1806. 
 
 March 19th. To 
 balance due me, 
 Errors excepted 
 Paid John Kinsey 
 
 Contra, 
 
 Due D. Edgar, 
 
 ,£2,008 4s. op. 
 
 £ S. P. 
 
 143 4 9 
 12 o 
 
 143 16 9 
 46 8 o 
 
 £ S. P. 
 
 Building the meet- 
 ing house, T "779 1 1 3 
 
 By sales of sundries 
 at vendue, 85 80 
 
 By balance due me, 1 43 4 9 
 
 ,£2,008 4s. op. 
 
 By a mistake in 
 adding the sub. , 40 o o 
 
 By Seth Dunn, 680 
 
 £46 8s. op. 
 
 97 8 9 
 
 March 24th, 1806, the committee appointed, examined and certi- 
 fied the above account, and find due David Edgar $243.60 
 
 (Copy signed), 
 
 JOSEPH CROWEEL, 
 JAMES PATON, 
 JAMES BROWN, 
 JOSEPH BARRON. 
 
 P. S. — David Edgar was authorized by a vote of the Parish to 
 assess the balance due him on the subscribers. 
 
 52 
 
SEXTONS. 
 
 WITH THEIR TERM OF SERVICE. 
 
 Gresham Conger, 1767-73. 
 Master Kennedy, 1773-76. 
 John F. Harriot, 1776-91. 
 Adolph Jonas, 1791-98. 
 John Holton, 1798, 1801. 
 Elias Thompson, 180 1-8. 
 Henry Dunham, 1 808-11. 
 Henry Osborn, 1811-12. 
 Joel Freeman, 1812-20 
 Charles Gilman, 1820-26. 
 Samuel Bird, 1826-38. 
 Richard Cook, 1838-58. 
 Thomas Cook, 1 858-6 1. 
 Charles Levi, 1861-65, 1870-76. 
 Richard Evans, 1865-70. 
 C. J. Scott, 1876. 
 
 53 
 
CHARTER OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 On the back of the Charter are these words : ' ' Let the Great Seal 
 of the Province be hereunto affixed. 
 
 To the Secretary of 
 
 I J. BELCHER. 
 New Jersey, j 
 
 The full text of this document is as follows : 
 
 George the second, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France 
 and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith, to all to whom these presents 
 shall come, greeting : 
 
 Whereas, The advancement of true Religion and virtue is abso- 
 lutely necessary for the promotion of peace, order, and prosperity of the 
 State. And, 
 
 Whereas, It is the Duty of all Christian Princes and Governors, 
 by the Love of God, to do all they can for the Encouragement thereof. 
 And, 
 
 Whereas, Sundry of our Loving Subjects of the Presbyterian 
 Persuasion Inhabitants of and about the Township of Woodbridge, within 
 our Colony of New Jersey, by their Humble Petition Presented to our 
 trusty and well beloved Jonathan Belcher, Esq., our Captain, General 
 and Commander-in-Chief of our Province of New Jersey, and Vice- 
 Admiral in the Same Shewing that the Petitions and others of the same 
 Persuasion Inhabitants in about the Township of Woodbridge, aforesaid, 
 do make up a very large and considerable Congregation. That the 
 most advantageous Support of Religion among them necessarily requires 
 that some Persons should be incorporated as Trustees for the community, 
 that they may take Grants of Lands and Chattels, thereby to enable the 
 Petitioners to erect and repair Publick Buildings for the worship of God 
 and the use of the Ministry, and School Houses and Alms Houses, and 
 suitably to support the Ministry and the Poor of their Church, and to 
 do and perform other acts of Piety and Charity ; and, that the same 
 Trustees may have power to Lett and Grant the same under a Publick 
 seal for the uses aforesaid ; and, that the same Trustees may Plead and 
 be impleaded in any suit touching the Premises, and have perpetual 
 succession, that as the known Loyalty of the Petitioners and the Pres- 
 byterians in General to us their firm affection to our Person and Govern- 
 ment, and the Prostestant Succession in our Royal House, gave the 
 Petitioners hopes of all Reasonable Indulgeance and Favour within the 
 same Colony where the Religious rites of mankind are so happily Pre- 
 served, and where our equal Grace and Bounty to all our Protestant 
 
 54 
 
faithful subjects, however, differing in opinion about lesser matters, has 
 hitherto been so sensibly felt and enjoyed, the said Petitioners, 
 
 Therefore, Most humbly prayed our Grant of an incorporation 
 to the Petitioners by the name of the Trustees of the First Presbyterian 
 Church, in the Township of Woodbridge,with all such powers, Capacities 
 and Priviliges as might be affectual in Law for the purposes aforesaid ; 
 and, that Richard Cutter, Edward Crowel, William Heard, David 
 Donham, George Brown, John Moores and Moses Bloomfield might be 
 the first Trustees, which Petition signed with the names of a Great 
 Number of our faithful and Loving Subjects, Inhabitants in and about 
 the said town, we being willing to grant, know ye that we of our Special 
 Grace, certain knowledge and meer motion have willed and ordained, 
 constituted, given and granted, and for us our Heirs and successors by 
 these Presents Do, will, ordain, constitute, give and grant that Richard 
 Cutter, Edward Crowel, William Heard, David Donham, George Brown, 
 John Moores and Moses Bloomfield from henceforth and their successors, 
 forever hereafter shall be and remain one Body, Poletick and Corporate 
 in Deed, Fact and Name, by the names of the Trustees of the First 
 Presbyterian Church, in the Township of Woodbridge, and them and 
 their successors by the name of the Trustees of the First Presbyterian 
 Church, in the Township of Woodbridge, one Body, Corporate and 
 Politick in Deed, Fact and Name, really and Truly We do for us, our 
 Heirs and successors erect, make, ordain, constitute, declare and create 
 by these Presents, and by that name they shall and may have Perpetual 
 Succession. 
 
 And, also that they and their successors by the Name of the 
 Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church, in the Township of Wood- 
 bridge, be and forever hereafter shall be Persons able in Law to Purchase, 
 take hold, Receive and enjoy any Messuages, Houses, Buildings, Lands, 
 Tenements, Rents, Assigns and other Hereditaments and Real Estate in 
 fee, simple or otherwise, so as the yearly clear Value of the Sum does 
 not Exceed the sum of Two Hundred pound sterling of the Statute of 
 Mortmain, any other Law to the contrary notwithstanding, and also 
 goods, chattels and all other things of what kind or quality soever. 
 
 And, also that they and their successors by the name of the Trustees 
 the First Presbyterian Church, in the Township of Woodbridge, shall 
 and may give, grant and demise, assign, sell or otherwise dispose of all 
 or any of their Messuages, Houses, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Posses- 
 sions and other Hereditaments and Real Estate, and all their goods, 
 chattels and other things aforesaid, as to them shall seem meet, and 
 also that they and their successors by the name of the Trustees 
 of the First Presbyterian Church, in the Township of Woodbridge, 
 
 55 
 
be, and forever hereafter, shall be able in Law capable to sue and 
 be sued, implead or be impleaded, persons answer or be answered, 
 defend or be defended in all courts of judicature whatsoever. And, 
 also that the said Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church in the 
 Township of Woodbridge, for the time being, and their successors shall, 
 and may forever, hereafter have and use a common Seal with such 
 device or devices as the}' shall think proper for Sealing all and singular 
 Deeds, Grants, Conveyances, Contracts Bonds, Articles of Agreement, 
 Assignments, Powers, Authorities ; and, all Singular their affairs and 
 things touching or concerning the said Corporation. 
 
 And, also that the said Trustees and their successors forever, may 
 as oft as they see fit break, change and new- make the Same or any 
 other their common Seal ; and Further, 
 
 We do of our special Grace, certain knowledge and meer motion of 
 us our Heirs and Successors by these Presents, will ordain, constitute, 
 give and Grant, that upon any Vacancy among the Trustees of the said 
 First Presbyterian Church, in the Township of Woodbridge, by Death, 
 Removal, or other Incapacity, whatsoever, that the Minister or Ministers, 
 Elders, and Deacons for the time being of the said First Presbyterian 
 'Chirch, in the Township of Woodbridge, shall and may meet together 
 at the Town of Woodbridge, aforesaid, and then and there elect and 
 choose such Person or Persons out of the Congregation of the said 
 Church, as they think Proper to Supply the Vacancy of such Trustee 
 or Trustees, cause by Death, Removal or other Incapacity as aforesaid. 
 
 And, also that at any and at all times, whatsoever, when the Said 
 Minister or Ministers, Elders and Deacons of the Church aforesaid, or 
 the majority of them for the time being, shall and do Judge it proper, 
 and for the Benefit of the Said Corporation that any Trustee or Trustees 
 Should be Removed and Displaced from his or thier office of Trustee, 
 that then, and in such case, the said Minister, or Ministers, Elders and 
 Deacons of the Said Church, or the majority of them for the time being, 
 shall and may meet together at the Town of Woodbridge, aforesaid, 
 and are hereby Sufficiently authorized then and there to Displace and 
 remove from the office of the Trustee or Trustees ; And in their Room 
 and stead to elect and choose out of the Congregation of said Church, 
 an>- Person or Persons to supply the place or places of such Trustees so 
 Displaced and Removed. 
 
 Provided, always, that the Number of the Said Trustees exceed not 
 Seven, and every Trustee so elected and appointed and aforesaid, shall 
 by virtue of these Presents, and of such election and appointment be 
 vested with all the Powers and Privileges which any of the other 
 Trustees has, or has had. 
 
 56 
 
And we do further will and ordain, Give and Grant that the Trustees 
 of the said First Presbyterian Church, in the Township of Woodbridge 
 and their successors for the time being, shall from time to time, have 
 Power to choose their President out of the Trustees for the time being, 
 who shall have the Custody of the Public v Seal of the said Corporation, 
 and all the books, Charters, Deeds and Writings any ways belonging to 
 the said corporation, and shall have Power from time to time, and at all 
 times hereafter, as occasion shall require to call meetings of the said 
 Trustees, at Town of Woodbridge, aforesaid, for the execution of all or 
 any of the Powers hereby given and Granted. 
 
 And in case of Sickness, Absence or Death of the President, all 
 the Powers by these presents Granted to the President shall be and 
 remain in the Eldest Trustee upon Record, until the recovery or return 
 of the President, or until a new President be chosen as foresaid. 
 
 And we do further, will, ordain, give and Grant, that all and every 
 Act, and Order of Five of the said Trustees (but not of any lesser 
 number) consented and agreed to at such meeting of the Trustees afore- 
 said shall be good, valid, and effectual to all intents and purposes, as if 
 the whole number of the Said Trustees had consented and agreed thereto. 
 
 And we do further will and ordain that all the acts of the said 
 Trustees shall from time to time be fairly entered in a book or books to 
 be kept for that purpose by the President of the Trustees for the time 
 being, which Book or Books, together with the Seal of the said Corpor- 
 ation and all the Charters, Deeds and Writings whatsoever belonging 
 any ways to the said corporation, shall be delivered over by the former 
 President, to the president of the Said Trustees newly Elected for the 
 time being as such president shall hereafter from time to time succes- 
 sively be chosen. 
 
 And Lastly we do of our special Graces certain knowledge and 
 meer motion for us, our Heirs and successors by these Presents, Give 
 and Grant unto the said Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church, in 
 the Township of Woodbridge, and their successors forever, that these 
 our Letters, Patent or the enrollment thereof Shall be good and 
 Effectual in the Law to all Intents and Purposes against us, our Heirs 
 and Successors without any other License, Grant or Confirmation from 
 us, our Heirs and Successors hereafter by said Trustees of the First 
 Presbyterian Church in the Township of Woodbridge, to be had or 
 obtained notwithstanding the not Reciting or mis-reciting or not naming 
 or mis-naming of the aforesaid officers, Franchises Privileges immuni- 
 ties or other the Premises or any of them, and notwithstanding a Writ 
 of "Ad Quod Damnum ' ' hath not issued forth to inquire of the 
 Premises or any of them before the Ensealing thereof any Statue, Act, 
 
 57 
 
Ordinance or Provision, or any other matter or thing to the Contrary 
 Notwithstanding, To have, Hold and enjoy all and Singular the 
 Privileges, Advantages, Liberties, Immunities and all other the Premi- 
 ses, herein and hereby Granted and Given or which are meant, Men- 
 tioned or intended to be herein given and Granted unto them the said 
 Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church, in the Township of Wood- 
 bridge, and to their successors forever. 
 
 In Testimony, whereof, we have caused these our Letters to be 
 made Patent and the Great Seal of our said Province of New Jersey, to 
 be hereunto affixed ; Witness our Trusty and well beloved Jonathan 
 Belcher, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of said Province of 
 New Jersey, this Eighth Day of September, in the Thirtieth year of our 
 Reign, and in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and 
 Fifty- Six, etc. 
 
 CHARLES READ, Sec. 
 
 I have perused the above charter arjd find nothing therein con- 
 tained inconsistent with His Majesty's Honour. 
 
 COURT' D SKINNER, Atty.-Gen'l. 
 
 [L.S.] 
 
 Dr. E. B. FREEMAN. 
 
 58 
 
TRUSTEES. 
 
 By a vote of the freeholders of the town, held May 21st, 1754, the 
 following elected trustees to take charge of the meeting house, burial 
 ground and the two hundred acres of land granted by the Lord's 
 Proprietors, Richard Cutter, Edward Crowell, William Brown, William 
 Heard, David Dunham, George Brown, John Moores, Moses Bloomfield. 
 Their names are incorporated as trustees in the royal charter, granted 
 September 8, 1756. 
 
 William Cutter succeeded Richard. W T illiam Edgar, Edward Crowell, 
 Tssac Tappen, William Heard, Alexander Freeman, David Dunham, 
 Jonathan Inslee, John Moores, William Brown, George, Henry Freeman, 
 Alexander, Gen. Heard, Isaac Tappen. 
 
 After September, 1791, list of Trustees, with their term of service, 
 is as follows : 
 
 Campyon Cutter, 1791-1830. 
 John Brown, Jr., 1 791-18 17. 
 Timothy Brewster, 1 791-1809. 
 Thomas Edgar, 1 791-1809. 
 Abraham Tappen, 1791-99. 
 Jarvis Bloomfield, 1791-95. 
 James Paton, 1 791-18 17. 
 John Heard, 1 795-1 802. 
 Ichabod Potter — 1 798-1 829. 
 Jonathan Freeman, 1 802-1 829. 
 Joseph Barron, 1 809-1 829. 
 John Brewster, 1809-19. 
 Samuel Edgar, 18 17-31. 
 Samuel Dunn, 1817-25. 
 Thomas Jackson, 1822-29. 
 Gage Inslee, 1823-42. 
 William Edgar, 1823-46. 
 George Y. Brewster, 1825-54. 
 Peter Edgar, 1830-32. 
 Thomas C. Brown. 1830-46. 
 Edgar Freeman, 1830-70. 
 Ephraim Harriot, 1832-36. 
 William Brown, 1832-42. 
 Dr. E. B. Freeman, 1842-74. 
 John E. Barron, 1842-49. 
 James P. Edgar, 1846-74. 
 
 59 
 
Ephraim Cutter, 1848-55. 
 Clarkson Edgar, 1849-50. 
 Peter Melick, 1850-70. 
 Samuel Cutter, 1842-50. 
 David N. Demarest, 1850-67. 
 George W. Brown, 185 4- 60. 
 Hampton Cutter, 1855-81. 
 James M. Brown, 1860-81. 
 J. Mattison Melick, 1867-74. 
 C. M. Dally, 1870-72. 
 Edward J. Thompson, 1870-74. 
 James P. Prall, 1872-76, 1881-85. 
 
 HAMPTON CUTTER. 
 
 60 
 
In 1874, at the time of the withdrawal of the Congregational Church 
 the following constituted the Board : 
 
 Dr. E. B. Freeman, James P. Edgar, Hampton Cutter, James M. 
 Brown, J. Mattison Melick, Edward J. Thompson, James P. Prall. 
 
 At the annual Parish meeting, 1874, a resolution was adopted that 
 each year hereafter the two Trustees at the head of the list should retire 
 and two new ones be elected in their stead. 
 
 William P. Edgar, 1875, 1882, -'86. 
 
 John Thompson, 1875. 
 
 C. W. Boynton, 1877, -'81, -'88, -'90. 
 
 Joseph H. T. Martin, i877,- , 8o,- , 83,-'86,- , 87,-'94,-' 9 5,-' 9 8. 
 
 William H. Cutter, 1878, -'82, -'83, -'86. 
 
 John Anderson, 1878, -'81. 
 
 Anthony Schoder, 1879, l88 9,-'95- 
 
 William Edgar, 1879, -'83, -'86, -'90. 
 
 Henry A. Monis, 1880, -'82. 
 
 Dr. S. E. Freeman, 1880, -'82, -'84, -'87. 
 
 William T. Ames, i88i,-'82. 
 
 Benjamin Drake, 1882, -'85. 
 
 Thomas C. Brown, 1885, -'87, -'89, -1900. 
 
 John M. Sutton, 1885, -'88, -'93, -'95. 
 
 Marcus A. Brown, 1885, -'89. 
 
 Charles S. Demarest, i886,-'89, -'90,-1900. 
 
 A. D. Brown, 1887, -'91. 
 
 William Bedman, 1888, -'91, -'95, -'97. 
 
 Elmer E. Melick, 1890,- '93. 
 
 William T. Ames, Jr., 1881,-1900. 
 
 Isaac H. Tappen, 1892,-1900. 
 
 James Lyle, 1895, -'97. 
 
 J. Edgar Brown, 1895,-1900. 
 
 John Paterson, 1897, -'99. 
 
 How r ard A. Tappen, 1897,-1900. 
 
 John E. Breckenridge, 1899,-1900 
 
 61 
 
JAMES M. BROWN. 
 
 62 
 
PRESENT OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Pastor, Rev. Joseph M. McNulty, D.D. 
 
 session : 
 
 Isaac S. Payne. 
 William H. Brown. 
 James P. Prall. 
 Marcus A. Brown. 
 T. Harvey Morris. 
 William Edgar, Clerk. 
 
 BOARD OF TRUSTEES: 
 
 Charles S. Demarest, President. 
 William T. Ames, Secretary. 
 Howard A. Tappen, Treasurer. 
 Isaac H. Tappen. 
 Thomas C. Brown. 
 J. Edgar Brown. 
 John E. Breckenridge. 
 
 Sexton, C. J. Scott. 
 
 Organist, Mrs. Seth Lockwood. 
 
 Precentor, Louis E. Potter. 
 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOL : 
 
 Superintendent, Howard A. Tappen. 
 
 Assistant Superintendent, T. Harvey Morris. 
 
 Secretary, John Webber. 
 
 Assistant Secretary, Walter Blair. 
 
 Treasurer, Marcus A. Brown. 
 
 Librarian, J. Edgar Brown. 
 
 Assistant Librarian, Ellis B. Freeman, Jr. 
 
 Superintendent of Home Department, Miss May Dixon. 
 
 63 
 
PRESS OF 
 
 WM. J. SCHAUFELE 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 — » i^n rsil 
 
Princeton Theological Seminary Libraries 
 
 Hill 
 
 1 1012 01191 5560