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HISTORICAL SERMON 
 
 PREACHED IN THE 
 
 South St. Presbyterian Church 
 
 IN MORRISTOWN, N. J., 
 
 ON THE 
 
 SOtli Anniversary of its Organization, 
 
 MAY 31, 1891, 
 
 BY THE PASTOR, 
 
 / 
 
 PRINTED BY THE SESSION. 
 
 MORRISTOWN, N. J.: 
 
 Printed at "The Jerseyman" Office 
 
 1891. 
 
 ^RY OF PHlficif^ 
 JUN 20 1997 
 
 A,. ..^y 
 
SOUTH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 Erected 1878. 
 
HISTORICAL NOTE. 
 
 /^HE SOUTH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of Mor- 
 ^-^ ristown, N. J., was organized under the name of " The Second 
 Presbyterian Church" in June. 1841, with a membership of two hundred 
 and eight (208) communicants, all of whom, except one, were received 
 by certificate from the First Presbyterian Church of this place. 
 
 Feb. 2 1 St, 1 84 1. The congregation began holding religious ser- 
 vices in the upper hall of the Academy, under the ministrations of the 
 Rev. Orlando L. Kirtland as stated supply. 
 
 May 27th, 1841. The corner stone of a house of worship was laid 
 with appropriate ceremonies. 
 
 June ist, 1 841. The Church was regularly organized by a Com 
 mittee of the Presbytery of Elizabethtown, consisting of Messrs. David 
 Magie and Nicholas Murray, Ministers, and Richard Townley and 
 James F. Meeker, Elders. 
 
 October 14th, 1841. The Church building was dedicated to the 
 service of God, and on the same occasion the Rev. O. L. Kirtland was 
 duly installed as Pastor by the Presbytery of Elizabethtown. 
 
 June, 1861. The Church was received under the care of the Pres- 
 bytery of Newark. 
 
 June 30th, 1872. By a vote of the Church the Plan of the Limi- 
 ted Term of Service of the Eldership was adopted, with a session of 
 nine acting Elders, arranged in three classes, the full term of service be- 
 ing three years. The year previous a Bench of six Deacons was chosen 
 on the basis of the same plan. 
 
 January loth, 1877. The Church building was destroyed by fire. 
 Steps were immediately taken for rebuilding, and on July 12th, 1878, 
 the present Church was formally dedicated, the Rev. M. D. Hoge, 
 D.D., of Richmond, preaching the sermon. During the building of the 
 Church, services were held regularly, at first in the chapel of the Public 
 
School on Maple avenue, from Jan. 14th to June 3d, afterward, till the 
 new house was finished, in the hall of the Library and Lyceum, 
 
 On Lord's Day morning. May 31, 1891, the Pastor, Albert Erd- 
 man, preached the Historical Sermon, being assisted in the Devotional 
 Services by the Rev. Charles K. Lnbrie, D.D., of Jersey City, N. J,, who 
 preached the installation sermon of the first pastor of the Church on 
 Oct. 14th, 1 841. 
 
 In the evening, a Union Service of the First Presbyterian Church 
 and the South Street Presbyterian Church was held, at which addresses 
 were made by the Rev. Drs. Lnbrie, Robert Aikman of Madison, Theo. 
 F. White of Summit, Kinsley Twining of Morristown, and John Mac- 
 naughtan, pastor of the First Church. Mr. Thomas B. Ironside, Su- 
 perintendent of the Market Street Mission, assisted in the Devotional 
 Exercises. 
 
 On Tuesday Evening, June 2d, a Reception of the congrega- 
 tion, to which the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church and 
 the pastors of the several Churches in Morristown were invited, was 
 held in the Sunday School rooms, at which addresses were made by the 
 Pastor, Elder F. G. Burnham, Rev. Drs. J. E. Adams of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, J. M. Buckley and John Macnaughtan. The Rev. 
 W. J. Parmelee of the Congregational Church made the Prayer of 
 Thanksgiving. The rooms were handsomely decorated with plants and 
 flowers and the national flag. The music was furnished by the choir. 
 
NAMES OF PASTORS. 
 
 C)rlando L. Kiktland, June, 1841, to October, 1851. 
 Jamks C. Edwards, January, 1852, to April, i860. 
 Arthur Mitchell, November, 1861, to October, 186 
 Albf.ri' Erdman, March, 1869. 
 
 CHURCH OFFICERS. 
 
 ELDERS. 
 
 Jabez Mills, Amos Prudden, 
 
 John W. Poinier, Ezra J. Cooper, 
 
 William B. Johnston. Amzi Gary, 
 
 Absalom Woodruff, M.D., Edwin Graves, 
 
 Isaac R. Noyes, Heman Mead, 
 
 John C. Hines, Charles G. Hazeltine, 
 
 Matthew Mitchell, Jonathan W. Roberts, 
 
 M. C. (t. Witte, E. Augustus Graves, 
 Edward J. Danforth. 
 All of whom, with one exception, have passed away. 
 
 PRESENT ACTING ELDERS. 
 Frederick G. Burnham, F. S. Bradford, M.D., 
 
 Philip H. Hoffman, Joseph F. Randolph. 
 
 S Lyman Young. Jacob L. Sutphen. 
 
 F. H. Fairchild, 
 
 W. L. R. Haven, 
 
 Geo. H. Kennedy. 
 
DEACONS. 
 ♦William S. Babbitt, F. W. Owen, M.D., 
 
 * Samuel McNair, James Chambers. 
 
 * Deceased. 
 
 PRESENT BENCH OF DEACONS. 
 
 J. Frank Lindsley, E. Alonzo Doty, 
 
 John B. Vreeland, Henry White, 
 
 Theodore Ayers, 
 
 Charles W. Ford. 
 
 TRUSTEES. 
 
 Term expires. Term expires 
 
 D. B. Hatch, May, 1894. F. S. Bradford, M.D., May, 1893 
 
 Geo. H. Kennedy, " P. H. Hofifman, Pres., 
 
 Levi C. Lathrop, " John Thatcher, 
 
 Term expires. 
 J. Frank Lindsley, May, 1992. 
 
 Hampton O. Marsh, " 
 
 John B. Vreeland, " 
 
 H. B. Hofifman, Treasurer. 
 
 SABBATH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS. 
 
 W. W. Cutler, Geo. H. Kennedy, 
 
 H. W. Buxton, Henry White. 
 
Rev. albert ERDMAN, D.D. 
 
SEMI-CENTENNIAL SERMON, 
 
 by the pastor, 
 Rev. albert ERDMAN, D.D. 
 
 Job 32: 7. — " Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach 
 
 wisdom." 
 
 Deut. 8: 2. — "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord 
 thy God led thee." 
 
 " Days should speak" of God's grace and goodness, and " multitude 
 of years" should teach lessons of gratitude and praise, as well as of hu- 
 mility and confession. One of the most natural, as it is one of the 
 most becoming, emotions of the human heart, is the feeling of gratitude. 
 Amid the ruin into which by reason of sin man is fallen, gratitude is at 
 least a remnant of a higher and nobler estate. It is one link, how- 
 ever weak and marred, that continues to ally earth to heaven — fallen 
 man with angel hosts. 
 
 It is, therefore, no arbitrary requirement on the part of God when 
 he desires, even commands, the praises of His creatures and especially of 
 the people whom He calls by His name. " Virtuous hearts," it has been 
 well said, "are instinctively grateful." And "God gives us remem- 
 brance in order that we may make great and blessed use of it." It 
 should teach us humiUty and hopeful thankfulness. 
 
 In the 63d chapter of Isaiah, the prophet gives expression to the 
 feeling of the pious heart as it recalls the " great goodness" of Jehovah 
 to His people, in language unsurpassed in beauty and pathos by any- 
 thing I know in all the Bible, " I will mention the loving kindnesses of 
 the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord 
 hath bestowed upon us, accordmg to His mercies, and according to the 
 multitude of His loving-kindnesses." The use of the plurals and the 
 
repetitions— " loving-kindnesses," "mercies," "multitude of His lov- 
 ing-kindnesses," His " great goodness" — imply that language is inade- 
 quate to express the full extent of God's goodness. And I would have 
 you note the beauty of the familiar and expressive phrase, so affection- 
 ately repeated — His " loving-kindnesses." According as gratitude rises 
 ill the heart in view of past mercies, you will put the emphasis on the 
 first part of the word, and it will become to you the /c;77>/^-kindness of the 
 Lord. He is not only kind to His people and therefore inclined to do 
 them good — He is that to all His creatures — He is more, He is lovingly 
 kind. His " kindnesses " to them that bear His name are full of love. 
 He has put His wisdom, His grace, His personal interest and care into 
 His kindness. The point of the whole passage is this — God's goodness 
 to His people, which to the prophet appears so great that language fails 
 to express it, brings into startling contrast their unworthiness and sin ; 
 and yet at the same time that very goodness, so great and marvelous, 
 becomes the ground of confidence that Jehovah will continue to be gra- 
 cious to His people, notwithstanding their unworthiness. His Name has 
 been called upon them, they are " the people of His Holiness." And 
 so, to-day, in calling to remembrance the " former days," " all the way 
 which the Lord our God hath led us," and the " multitude of His lov- 
 ing-kindnesses" to this Church and people these fifty years, while we 
 cannot but speak in terms of praise and commendation of the devotion 
 and self-sacrifice of the fathers, and of the dilligence and faithfulness of 
 their successors, yet we should constantly keep in mind that God alone 
 is worthy to be praised ; and we here to-day should let the words of Eli- 
 hu (whose name means "God Himself") to Job be guide to our thoughts 
 — "Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom." 
 
 And right here, at the outset, I must note the unique fact that the 
 history of these fifty years of Church life is the history of uninterrupted 
 prosperity. Even that which seemed at the time to be against us — I 
 refer to the destruction by fire of the former house of worship — proved 
 to be, as do all the Lord's afflictions, a blessing in disguise ; for the his- 
 tory of the Church since has been that of continued and ever-increasing 
 prosperity, if growing numbers and enlarged usefulness be criteria of 
 success. A spirit of harmony and good-will mark its whole course, and 
 it is, therefore, with unmingled pleasure and gratitude to God, we may 
 recall the past. No roots of bitterness and strife to be covered up, no 
 rocks of offence to be carefully avoided ! 
 
 It was during the winter of 1840-41 that a large number of the 
 members of the old First Church of Morristown withdrew with the pas- 
 
Rev. ORLANDO L. KIRTLAND. 
 
 tor, the Rev. O. L. Kirtland, from that congregation for the purpose of 
 forming a new Church organization. Their first service as a separate 
 congregation was held on Sunday, Feb. 21, 1841, in the upper room of 
 the old academy building, which stood on the site now occupied by the 
 stately structure — the Library and Lyceum — just across the way from 
 where we are now worshipping. The Rev. Mr. Kirtland conducted 
 the services, and continued to do so as stated supply, till the new 
 edifice was completed, when, on the same day, Oct. 14, i84i,the house 
 was dedicated and Mr. Kirtland was installed as pastor. On May 17th 
 the congregation elected as their first Board of Trustees Dr. John B. 
 Johnes, Lewis B. Stiles, Ephraim Young, Jonathan H. Smith, the Hon. 
 
Francis Child, B. O. Canfield and the Hon. Stephen Vail. It was 
 then required — and so continued till 1848 — by the law of the State, that 
 every person elepted to the office of Trustee subscribe to the following 
 oath, '• We do swear that we will support the Constitution of the Uni- 
 ted States ; and we do sincerely profess and swear that we will bear true 
 faith and allegiance to the government established in this State under 
 the authority of the people ; and we do swear that we will faithfully ex- 
 ecute the trust reposed in us as Trustees, according to the best of our 
 abilities and understanding. So help us God." This oath, duly sub- 
 scribed and sealed, was each year entered upon the Record Book of the 
 Parish. 
 
 Tuesday, June ist, 1841, the Church was formally organized by a 
 Committee of the then Presbytery of Elizabethtown, said Committee 
 consisting of the Revs. David Magie and Nicholas Murray, and Elders 
 Richard Townley and James F. Meeker, under the name of " The Sec- 
 ond Presbyterian Church of Morristown." All of these whose names 
 have been mentioned are fallen asleep. Two hundred and seven com- 
 municants, regularly dismissed from the First Presbyterian Church were 
 * received, and one from the Presbyterian Church of New Vernon. This 
 was nearly one-half of the membership of the mother Church. It is 
 needless to say, that when it came to the question of splitting in two a 
 strong and flourishing Church like the old First — a division which for a 
 long while must necessarily cripple it, and which involved the sundering 
 of very dear and sacred ties — it must have caused not a few alienations 
 and no little bitterness of feeling. But, happily, that is all past, and 
 time, the great healer, has brought instead only a generous rivalry be- 
 tween mother and daughter, and a " provoking one another to love and 
 good works." 
 
 The Session of the new Church met for the first time on June 4th, 
 and, in the words of the record, " spent a season in prayer and conver- 
 sation upon the state of the Church." On the following Lord's day 
 (June 6th), " the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was for the first time 
 administered in the Hall of the Lyceum" or Academy. 
 
 Of the 208 communicants who constituted the Church at its origin, 
 only eight " remain to this present" in our communion, viz. : Mr. Jarzel 
 Turner, Mrs. Samuel McNair, Mrs. Maltby G. Pierson, Mrs. J. Edcell 
 Prudden, Mrs. Silas Prudden, Mrs. Lewis B. Stiles, Mrs. O. L. Kirtland 
 and Miss Caroline B. Freeman. 
 
 At this place, it will be of interest to recall the spirit and zeal of 
 those who organized the Church and, amid many difficulties and self- 
 denying labors, built the first house of worship. It will show us that, 
 
after all, noth withstanding the generous contribution by the present con- 
 gregation during the past year and within these few weeks for the en- 
 largenrient and improvement of this beautiful structure, the fathers and 
 mothers of fifty years ago compare most favorably with us, their children. 
 May we not. even say that they exceeded us in real self-sacrifice and 
 devoted zeal? for, like the Churches of Macedonia, " according to their 
 power, yea, and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord," 
 and their " poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." 
 
 It may be of interest to state here— merely as a matter of history — 
 that at a meeting of the still undivided congregation, held in the First 
 Church Dec. 30th, 1 840, to consider the question of dividing the old Church 
 for the purpose of forming a Second Presbyterian Church, among the 
 resolutions, adopted by a majority vote of ninety-one, was the following : 
 " That to enable said Second Congregation to erect a house of worship 
 within the limits of this parish and for the purpose of an amicable distri- 
 bution of the property of this congregation, the Trustees assign, trans- 
 fer and pay to as trustees in trust for that portion of this congre- 
 gation as shall become members of the said Second Presbyterian Con- 
 gregation $3,000 of the funds, money and property of this congrega-- 
 tion, to be appropriated and applied in erecting a house of worship and 
 for the uses and purposes of the said second congregation." This divis- 
 ion of property it appears, was to include some " woodlands owned by 
 the congregation, being about sixty acres, more or less, to be valued at 
 $1,500." For reasons that need not now be recalled, this particular action 
 was never carried out, and the members who separated from the old 
 mother church finally went out with only their own willing hands and 
 hearts to meet the task of providing a church home for themselves. The 
 whole country had just passed through a financial crisis — the panic of 
 '37 — than which no greater and more disastrous has ever befallen our na- 
 tion, and recovery from which did not come for years after. Banks 
 were insecure in their issue of currency, money was with great difficulty 
 to be secured on loan. As one who remembers well those days has 
 written me, " I feel the South Street Church could raise $100,000 more 
 easily now than $6,000 could have been secured fifty years ago." "But," 
 continues my correspondent, " the newly organized congregation was 
 fortunate in the unity and earnestness which actuated all classes, old 
 and young, and in having connected with it such men as Joseph M. Linds- 
 ley and his brother Matthew G. Lindsley, also Ephraim Young, Andrew 
 Meeker, Ezra J. Cooper and others, all skilled mechanics. Some of 
 these men had no superiors as builders. It was J. M. Lindsley who 
 taught the New York mechanics how to make the unsupported ceiling 
 
i6 
 
 of the old Broadway Tabernacle in New York City stay when fid up^ 
 and who built the Court House in Morristown 63 years ago. It was 
 the presence of these skilled workmen, backed by the earnest zeal of 
 such men as Judge Childs, Eph. Young and his father Stephen Young, 
 Lewis B. Stiles, Jonathan Smith, Wm. L. Crowell and others, that led 
 to the speedy erection of the ' New Church,' as it was for a time 
 called." Mention is also made of the constant and efficient aid of the 
 Women of the Church — then, as now and always, among the most loyai 
 in every good word and work—who, by means of fairs and festivals, add- 
 ed materially to the building fund. In this connection, the letter speaks 
 of the ready assistance received from ladies of sister Churches, especial- 
 ly from " Mrs. G. P. Macculloch of the Protestant Episcopal Church and 
 her grand-daughters, the children of the late U, S. Senator Miller, also 
 from the daughters of Judge Stites of the First Church — notably the 
 eldest afterwards Mrs. Cortland Parker — whose kindly presence and 
 generous aid should be held in grateful remembrance." All which it is 
 very pleasant, even after fifty years, to recall. The silver Baptismal 
 «Bowl, still in use in the Church, was the gift of Mr. James Colles of St. 
 Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church. I have in my possession the auto- 
 graph letter of Dr. John B. Johnes, President of the Board of Trustees, 
 acknowledging the gift, and wishing for Mr. Colles a prosperous voyage 
 as he was about to sail for a tour through Europe. 
 
 On May 17th, 1841, at a parish meeting called for the purpose, it 
 was unanimously agreed to proceed at once to the erection of a house of 
 worship, and a Building Committee consisting of Joseph M, Lindsley, 
 Ephriam Young, Enoch Ketchum, John W. Poinier and William B. 
 Johnson, was appointed. The first thing in order was to secure a site 
 on which to build. Several lots were offered, among them one on the 
 lower end of Elm street near the present R. R. Station, another on High 
 street near Prospect street, and the Baptist Church property. The last, 
 however, was withdrawn because the elder portion of the Church would 
 not consent to its being sold, and the choice settled upon the site which 
 has ever since been occupied bj- the Church. At that time the lot was in 
 a very different condition from that which it now presents. Where the 
 parsonage now stands was a deep and muddy ravine reaching across 
 South street. So deep was the hollow on the street, it is said, that 
 when one of the old-fashioned stage coaches of the day descended into 
 it, it was completely hid from view to one standing a few hundred rods 
 away. The site, however, selected for the Church was a dry sandy 
 knoll. On it stood an old frame building, which had previously been 
 used as a printing office by Henry P. Russell, the publisher of the 
 
'' Genius of Liberty," and later of the " Morristovvn Herald." The 
 deed of the property describes it as containing one and sixty-two- 
 one-hundreths acres, and having 196 2-100 feet frontage on South 
 street, and 214 feet in the rear, with 345 85-100 feet depth on west 
 side, and 342 52-100 feet on the east. The price paid for the lot was 
 $2,500. It is an item of interest, that at this time the M. & E. Division 
 of the D., L. & W. R. R. entered the town near the junction of South 
 street and Madison avenue, and ran along what is now Maple avenue, its 
 terminus and station being in the neighborhood of Maple avenue and 
 DeHart street. This fact in part accounts for the even grade of that 
 fine avenue. Ground was broken on April 7th, 1841, the sand taken 
 from the cellar being used to fill up the bog hole where the parsonage 
 now stands, members of the congregation and others sending their 
 teams, wagons and carts and men to aid in the work. It was the same 
 in bringing the stone for the foundations, all having at heart the wel- 
 fare and prosperity of the Church. Mr. Benjamin H. Lindsley.was the 
 boss mason, and so well did he and his men work, largely aided by vol- 
 unteers, that on May 27th, fifty days after the first ground was broken, • 
 the corner stone was ready to be laid. It being very stormy the congre- 
 gation assembled in their place of worship in the old academy, and after 
 a service of prayer and thanksgiving, they crossed over to witness the 
 laying of the corner stone. The ceremonies consisted of prayer by the 
 Rev. O. L. Kirtland and an address by the Rev. Alfred Chester, — the 
 father of Mrs. Wm. Coursen, who is with us here to-day. The identi- 
 cal stone forms part of the foundation of this building, in the porch 
 leading to the rear hall of the Church. Among the articles placed in 
 the corner stone, the only thing that was found intact, aftei the burning 
 of the church, was a silver dime whose history is worth preserving. It 
 was the first contribution in money towards the building of the church, 
 the gift of a little daughter in the family of a relative of Mr. Chester, 
 and who overhearing the conversation of her elders about the edifice to 
 be built, brought it saying, " I wish to give this for the new church !" 
 Though herself connected with St. Peter's Church, the simple gift — as 
 generous as the hundreds given by others — was well deemed worthy a 
 place in the corner stone of the building. "Out of the mouth of babes 
 the Lord ordains praise." At the same time while the church was in 
 process of erection, a fine large hotel was being built, as also the former 
 Methodist church. So that the labor of mechanics was in great demand, 
 and good wages offered. Yet nearly every mechanic in the place lent 
 willing aid in putting up the building, many working without pay for 
 several days at a time and then giving place to others. All who had an 
 
interest in tlie Church and had woodlands, brought to the work choice 
 sticks of timber, oak and chestnut, well hewn for beams and rafters. It 
 is worthy of mention here, that Mr. Charles Ford, father of Mrs. J. J. 
 Scofield, brought timber from his woodlot, just as 50 years before, when 
 a lad of 15, he had drawn from the same lot for the building of the old 
 First Church, which still stands — the old-time pride of our town. Much 
 of the material — wood and stone — which went into the building was 
 furnished free of cost, or subscribed to the building fund. One young 
 woman, still living, who was earning fifty cents a week, subscribed, out 
 of her meagre earnings, $25 to the building. Many of the timbers and 
 rafters were solidly riveted by iron bolts, most of which were made by 
 Mr. Jarzel Turner, then a blacksmith on Morris Plains, and who still 
 continues with us. The lathing and plastering was done largely by vol- 
 unteers. It is on record that Mr. Silas D. Cory — not connected with 
 the congregation — who at the time had charge of the mason work in the 
 building of the " New Jersey Hotel" — a season of rain obliging him to 
 stop work on that structure — called for volunteers to go to the church 
 and help in the plastering. He was followed by sixteen of his men, and 
 with them did some three days' work, nor left it until the job was fin- 
 ished. " Such," exclaims the historian, " was the spirit of the mechanics 
 of 1841!" 
 
 I speak of these things, because the willing-hearted zeal of the 
 founders of this Church is surely as worthy of mention as that of the 
 Children of Israel, when in the wilderness "every one whose heart 
 stirred him up, and whom his spirit made willing, brought the Lord's of- 
 fering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation," or as that of 
 King Hiram of Tyre who " cut wood out of Lebanon and brought it in 
 floats by sea to Joppa" for the building of the Temple at Jerusalem. 
 The Church of Christ meant a great deal to the generations of the past ! 
 
 October, 1841, found the building completed, or at least sufficiently 
 so for occupancy. The basement, which was designed for the Sunday 
 School and week day services, was not completed till some time after- 
 wards. It was a plain, well built wooden structure, with a high stoop. 
 The tower was square and surrounded at the top by a wooden railing. 
 Several years afterward this tower was carried up higher and surmounted 
 by a dome-shaped top. In it was hung the bell presented by Judge 
 Stephen Vail, which if not of the most melodious sound, did good ser- 
 vice for thirty-six years, giving its last voice in sounding out the alarm of 
 fire, before it fell, destroyed and buried in the ruins of the burning 
 church. A fine clock— the gift of Mrs. Vail— hung in front of the 
 choir gallery, and a large Bible, also her gift, was on the pulpit. 
 
THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING, 1841. 
 
Oct. 14th ihe new house was solemnly dedicated to the worship of 
 Almighty God. The dedicatory services were held in the forenoon of 
 the day, at whidi the sermon was preached by the Rev. Nicholas Mur- 
 ray of Elizabethtown. His closing words are worthy of preservation, 
 copied by one who heard them : — 
 
 " This will ever be a day memorable in the history of this congregation 
 and to which the future worshippers here will ever recur with interest. It 
 has pleased God thus far to lead you along, and to give you energy, harmony 
 and success. In the erection of this house prosperity has attended you from 
 the beginning to the end. No accident has occurred to abate the pleasure 
 of its prosecution or diminish your satisfaction at its completion. You as- 
 semble here this morning for its dedication, and will again assemble in the 
 afternoon to receive at the hands of God and the Presbytery a Pastor. This 
 is indeed among us a remarkable coincidence which you should not fail to 
 note and to record. This house we now dedicate to the worship of God. It is 
 to be hereafter the place to which this congregation will resort to hear the 
 Gospel — to praise God and seek his blessing. And that it may be associated 
 only with sacred things, never permit it to be occupied for purposes with 
 which the worship of God has no connection. Let this house be sacred to 
 your hearts as the home of your pious affections, as the favored place for the 
 cultivation of the graces and for the exercise of faith in Jesus Christ ; and let 
 this house be the place of your habitual presence. You have erected and now 
 dedicate it to God. From this pulpit the Gospel in its freshnessand fullness 
 is to be preached ; to benefit you you must statedly and regularly occupy 
 these pews. Let this he your house. Let the regular worshippers here be a 
 part of your family. Let your pew be as a chamber in your own private 
 dwelling, and when the Word of Lif-e is here dispensed, see that your place 
 is as regularly occupied as is your seat at your own table. And come at all 
 times with the heart of Lydia to hear the word that may be spoken, and 
 then every Sabbath spent here, every sermon heard here, every service per- 
 formed here, will tend to give you meetness for that building of God, that 
 house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. And our hearts dwell 
 with rapturous joy on the thought that from this pulpit the Gospel will be 
 preached, that edified hearers will hear the joyful sound of the Gospel in 
 these pews, long after we who are the actors and spectators in the scenes of 
 this day have returned to the dust ; that the tear of penitence will here glis- 
 ten in many an eye when God has wiped away all tears from ours ; and that 
 here many will draw around the Lord's table long after we have gone up to 
 our reward and taken our seat at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Will 
 you not, now, dedicate yoierse/ves to be living temples, meet for the indwell- 
 ing of the Holy Spirit ? However deeply we may engrave the name of God 
 upon these walls, or doors, or pillars, it will sooner or later be erased, for 
 the hand of time will shake these pillars and lay this house in ruins. But if 
 that name is written upon your hearts, time cannot erase it. Death will only 
 
2 I 
 
 render it the more legible. The smoke of consuming worlds cannot obscure 
 it. and when the decisions of the last great day have sent the righteous and 
 the wicked to their various allotments, like the Urimand Thummim upon the 
 breast of the High Priest it will shine the more resplendent as the years of 
 eternity roll onward, and will secure to you forever all that is comprehended 
 in that immensely comprehensive word ' salvation.' Upon these walls, and 
 gates, and doors, upon this pulpit and these pews, upon all of our hearts, 
 may ' Holiness to the Lord " be now written." 
 
 The prayer of dedication was offered by the acting pastor, Mr. 
 Kirtland. 
 
 In the afternoon, the Rev. O. L. Kirtland was regularly installed 
 Pastor of the church. The sermon of installation was preached by the 
 Rev. C. K. Imbrie, then of Rahway ; the charge to the pastor by the 
 Rev. David Magie of Elizabethtown ; the charge to the people by the 
 Rev. Mr. Blauvelt of Lamington. The prayer of installation was offered 
 by the Rev. Dr. Ogden of Chatham. 
 
 The cost of the building and lot was estimated at $10,840.00, and 
 upon this sum an assessment of 10 per cent, was fixed to meet the cur- 
 rent expenses of the congregation. 
 
 The music was one of the most attractive features of the Dedica- 
 tion services, and always formed an interesting and important part of the 
 church services. Jacob Jenkins, a teacher in the Academy, was choris- 
 ter and leader. The choir was a large one, composed of 22 young ladies 
 and upwards of 15 gentlemen, some of whom are still among us, mem- 
 bers of this and other churches in Morristown. As they had as yet no 
 organ, the accompaniment was played by Mr. W. VV. Fairchild on the 
 concert flute, Messrs. Jas. Noyes and Johnson on the violin, Wm. Day 
 on the base viol. There was also a cornet, and a violincello played by 
 an accomplished artist, whom the gentlemen of the choir hired, each con- 
 tributing a Mexican sixpence a Sunday. Says one, who was from the 
 beginning a member of it and afterwards its leader, " that choir was a 
 remarkable one in more ways than one," — which is easy to believe ! It 
 must have been in its variety and size something like David's choir — 
 *' as well the singers as the players on instruments were there." The 
 instruments named continued to be used in the choir for several years, 
 until they were superceded by a seraphine — something like an overgrown 
 melodeon. This in time gave place to a small second-hand organ, and 
 this again to a new and larger instrument, which continued in use till 
 the destruction of the church by fire. 
 
 The church has had in these fifty years four pastors, including the 
 present incumbent. 
 
Mr. Kirtland's pastorate continued till October, 1851. i. e., 10 
 years, during which time there were added to the church — not includ- 
 ing the original -207 from the First Church — by letter 140, and on con- 
 fession of their faith 123, total 263, or an yearly average of 26. Mr. 
 Kirtland, after serving the Presbyterian Church in New Providence for 
 several years, returned to Morristovvn to spend his closing days, and 
 on May 27th, 1874, was buried from the church he had helped to build, 
 and which he had so long ministered to in faithfulness and love. He 
 was 73 years of age. 
 
 Rev. JAMES C. EDWARDS. 
 
 He was succeeded by the Rev. Jas. C. Edwards, who was installed 
 in January, 1852, and continued till April, i860, a little over 8 years. 
 During his pastorate 143 persons were received into membership, 59 by 
 letter and 84 on confession, or a yearly average of 18. Mr. Edwards 
 died in Morristovvn June 28, 1880, of the same age as his predecessor, 
 having resided here previous to his death about 3 years. In the first 
 year of Mr. Edwards's pastorate the Parsonage was built at a cost of 
 about $2,200. In succeeding years it was twice enlarged. 
 
23 
 
 Rev. ARTHUR MITCHELL, D.D. 
 
 Rev. Arthur Mitchell — at present one of the secretaries of the 
 Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions — was the third pastor, being 
 installed in November, 1861, and resigned his pastorate in October, 
 1868, to accept a call to the First Presbyterian Church in Chicago, 111. 
 During his pastorate of 7 years 201 were added to the church, 91 by 
 letter and tig on confession, a yearly average of nearly 29. During this 
 time — in 1865 — the church building was enlarged at a cost of $11,083. 
 The Building Committee consisted of Messrs. Gordon Burnham, who 
 was also President of the Board of Trustees, Matthew Mitchell, Dr. E. B. 
 Woodruff, H. O. Marsh and S. S. Halsey. Messrs. Dr. Woodruff, S. 
 Broadwell and C. H. Mulford were the committee to raise the funds 
 necessary to meet the expenses of the enlargement. All of these breth- 
 ren — except two — have finished their work and been gathered to the 
 church of the first born above. 
 
 In June, i86r, the church was transferred from the then Presby- 
 tery of Passaic, O. S., and received under the care of the Presbytery of 
 Newark, N. S., under the name of the " South Street Presbyterian 
 
THE CHURCH OF 1865, 
 
25 
 
 Church," and continued in this relation till the Reunion of the Old and 
 New School bodies, when the present Presbytery of Morris and Orange 
 was constituted. 
 
 T\\t fourth and present pastorate began in March, i86g, the instal- 
 lation services being held on May 19th During these 22 years the 
 church has received into its membership by letter 418, and on confession 
 of their faith 549, or a total of 967, a yearly average of 44 — making in 
 all 1574 persons received into membership since the organization of the 
 church; 708 by letter and 866 on confession. Adding the number of 
 original or charter members, there have been connected with this church 
 in these 50 years 1782. The present membership— not counting those 
 who have been absent upwards of 3 years, and those passed beyond our 
 knowledge — is 680. 
 
 On Wednesday, Jan. loth, 1877, the Church building which had 
 been the object of so many prayers and loving zeal and devotion — the 
 fruit of many a heartfelt yet willing sacrifice— was totally destroyed by 
 fire. 
 
 What seemed at first so great a calamity proved but the beginning 
 of enlarged usefulness and blessing. Immediate steps were taken to 
 rebuild, and though " times were hard " and money scarce, old and 
 young laid hold of the work. Sacrifices neither few nor small were 
 made, but all cheerfully and heartily, for as in Nehemiah's time at the 
 rebuilding of the Temple, " the people had a mind to the work," and by 
 mid-summer of the following year we entered this beautiful house vir- 
 tually free from debt. The total cost of the building was $45,600, 
 toward which the trustees received $23,000 insurance on the old build- 
 ing. Built at a time when materials and labor were at the lowest, 
 and with its enlarged capacity and improvements, it could scarcely be 
 duplicated at the present time for less than $90,000. The amount 
 raised by the congregation, including cost of organ, heating apparatus 
 and furnishing of church and Sunday school rooms, aggregated about 
 $32,000. 
 
 We may not pass from this part of our history without again com- 
 mending the wisdom, faithfulness and zeal of the Building Committee, 
 into whose hands the parish gave the work, viz. : Messrs. J. W. Rob- 
 erts, Wm. L. King, H. O. Marsh, Geo. H. Danforth, Dr. P. C. Barker, 
 E. A. Graves and Matthew Mitchell. The wise intelligence of the 
 Committee, as well their good fortune, will be gladly recognized in the 
 choice of the architect, Mr. J. C. Cady of New York, whose name and 
 services will always be gratefully remembered by us. 
 
26 
 
 The Benediction, inscribed over the arch, spanning the pulpit, — 
 " Grace be unto you and Peace from Him which is, and which was, and 
 which is to conle"— fitly expresses the purpose and meaning of this 
 House to all who enter its doors. 
 
 As compared with this present stately edifice, with all its facilities 
 and splendid equipment of S. S. rooms, the old church building was in- 
 deed " homely," as the phrase goes, with its high, front stoop, and its 
 underground, low ceiling S. S. rooms, in one end of which in close com- 
 panionship with the furnace, the little restless flock of the Infant de- 
 partment was gathered, on hard, stairlike benches, rising from the floor 
 to the great, tin, unpainted, tunnel like, heating flues overhead, — homely 
 and perhaps unattractive to the uninterested and stranger, but beautiful 
 as a palace to them who there first saw the King in His beauty, and 
 there were wont to hold fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 Fathers and mothers are here to-day who are leading their children 
 and children's children in the path in which their own childish feet learned 
 to walk, led by the hand of loving and devoted teachers. 
 
 " The story of the past 
 
 Comes up before our view ; 
 How well it seems to suit us still. 
 
 Old, and yet ever new. 
 
 'Tis the same story still, 
 
 Of sin and weariness, 
 Of grace and love yet flowing down 
 
 To pardon and to bless." 
 
 The congregation throughout its history has been especially fortu- 
 nate in its choice of the men who administered its affairs as Trustees. 
 Besides those already mentioned, and who constituted its first Board, 
 among the number who have been called up higher are such names as 
 Judge Edward W. VVhelpley, Gordon Burnham, Dr. E. B. Woodruff, E. 
 J. Danlorth, George H. Danforth, Hon. Theo. F. Randolph, Samuel J. 
 Doty, David J. Guerin, John R. Church, Rufus R. Graves, WiUiam S. 
 Babbitt, Edgar F. Randolph, John C. Lord and others, who with loyal 
 and single-hearted zeal cared so faithfully for the temporal interests of 
 the Church and congregation. 
 
 Equally favored has the Church been in the character of the men 
 who, as Elders, had charge of its spiritual affairs. On May 27th, 1841, 
 the first Session of Ruling Elders of the Church was chosen, viz : Jabez 
 Mills^ John W. Poinier and William B. Johnston. The following, also 
 — names honored and beloved — were members of the Session, some of 
 
27 
 
 them at times acting also as Trustees, viz: Absalom Woodruff, M.D., 
 Amos Prudden, E. J. Cooper, Amzi Gary, Edwin Graves, E. J. Dan- 
 forth, J. W. Roberts, Isaac R. Noyes, Matthew Mitchell, John G. 
 Hines, G. G, Hazeltine, M. G. G. Witte, Heman Mead and E. A. 
 Graves, — men beloved and honored for their godly lives, men of faith 
 and prayer. The first bench of Deacons was chosen on June ist, 187 1, 
 consisting of Theodore Ayers, William S. Babbitt, S. L. Young, Dr. F. 
 W. Owen, Samuel McNair and Gharles. W.Ford. Two of these have 
 gone on before, two still continue in office. 
 
 The Spiritual History of the Ghurch is full of profoundest interest, 
 — a history which cannot be told in figures — which only the arithmetic 
 of Heaven, and the Book of Life which shall be " opened," can rightly 
 unfold. From the beginning, the one great aim of all gospel preaching 
 and church life was constantly kept in view — the salvation of souls. 
 Few, indeed, were the communion seasons when there were not some 
 gathered into the fellowship of the Ghurch. At the very origin of the 
 Ghurch the devotion and earnestness of the people attracted the impen- 
 itent and unsaved. Says one : " Men were seen at the services of the 
 Ghurch who had not been found at religious worship in years before." 
 
 A Sunday School was immediately organized in the old academy 
 building. Bible classes of young and middle-aged men were formed 
 under godly teachers, like Mr. Jabez Mills and Mr. Ezra J. Gooper. 
 There are those here to-day, and multitudes over the land, who cherish 
 in grateful remembrance " the earnest prayers and tender appeals" of 
 Mr. J. W. Poinier, the Superintendent. A young men's Bible Society 
 was soon organized, the town was districted and canvassed and supphed 
 with the Word of God, under the faithful oversight of Mr. G. H. Mul- 
 ford, whose " bow still abides in strength." From this Society came 
 a project to canvass the whole Gounty, which put new life into the 
 Gounty Bible Society which had lain comparatively idle for years. 
 
 Special seasons of revival interest often prevailed. In 1842, the 
 year after the organization of the Ghurch, twenty-seven were received 
 into the membership of the Ghurch on confession of their faith. The 
 year following upwards of fifty confessed Ghrist. For large numbers re- 
 ceived at any one communion, the following dates are memorable :. 
 June, '58, 36; April, '74, 42; Feb., '76, 42; Jan., '87, 57; Feb., '91, 
 21. These, indeed, are mere figures ; who can write the Hst of blessed- 
 ness and joy which they convey ? The great majority of those received' 
 into the Ghurch — and the same is true of every long established church 
 — have come into it through the Sabbath School. 
 
 The history of our Sunday School would itself require many pages- 
 
28 
 
 to relate. Always flourishing and zealous in every good word and work, 
 it never was more prosperous than now, when, with its large adult Bible 
 classes, it has on its roll 770 scholars and teachers. It is not merely 
 the right arm of the Church, ifs the heart, which both receives and gives, 
 and is a blessing continually. 
 
 Bencvoletue. Need I say that a Church with such a record as I 
 have but feebly outlined, must of necessity have cultivated the " grace " 
 of giving? '' Of necessity," 1 say, for I earnestly believe that the tem- 
 poral and spiritual prosperity which, during these fifty years, has marked 
 its history, is largely due to the fact that this has been and is a 
 missionary Church. From the very beginning, pastor and people re- 
 cognized the obligation of the Church to those who dwell in the " re- 
 gions beyond " I find in the record that in the first year of its existence 
 — notwithstanding the heavy burdens incumbent upon it — $375 were 
 contributed for " the spread of the Gospel abroad," as the phrase then 
 was. The year following this was increased — including the several 
 causes of Home and Foreign Missions — to $728. With the growth of 
 the Church came a steady growth in giving. Under the ministry of Dr. 
 Mitchell the gifts of the Church increased rapidly. Having a more 
 complete tabulated form of the Benevolent Contributions of the Church 
 during the present pastorate. I may be permitted to give the summary 
 for the twenty-two years past : 
 -For the cause of Home Missions in these twenty-two years the 
 
 Church contributed $41,626 
 
 Foreign Missions 58,741 
 
 Education, 1 1,535 
 
 Publication Board, 2,083 
 
 Eoard of Church Erection, 5,654 
 
 Ministerial Rehef, 5,521 
 
 Mission for Freedmen, 16,671 
 
 Aid for Colleges, Academies, &c., 652 
 
 Miscellaneous. — Including Bible Society, Tract Society, Sea- 
 men's Friend Society, &c., &c., 37,603 
 
 Making a total of $180,086 
 
 or a yearly average of $8,185. 
 
 During the same period, for congregational expenses, in- 
 cluding building of new church, &c., $194,578 
 
 A grand total of . $374,664 
 
 or a yearly average of benevolence and congregational expenses of 
 
 ;$I7,030. 
 
29 
 
 In contributing; to this grand result, credit must be given to the va- 
 rious organizations of the church, viz : " The Sabbath School Mis- 
 sionary Association," " The Woman's Missionary Society," organized 
 in 1872 ; " The Young Ladies' Mission Band," formed in 1882 ; 
 " Mens' and Boys' Missionary Fund," now in its third year ; besides 
 the union organizations such as the McAll Auxiliary, Indian Associa- 
 tion Auxiliary, Woman's Union Missionary Society, and The Angelini 
 Society, in all of which the women of this church bear, in some cases, 
 the larger part. 
 
 We are represented on the Foreign Field by Miss Youngman \vt 
 Japan, three lady missionaries of the " China Inland Mission," Rev A. 
 Beattie and four native helpers in Southern China, Rev. Mr. Coan in 
 Persia, all of whom are supported by the several societies of the church 
 and special individual contributions. Nor have these interests and oth- 
 ers interfered with the regular collections for the respective Boards of 
 the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Besides these, the Sunday School Missionary Association has as- 
 sumed the support of a Home Missionary in Boise City, Idaho. Our 
 '' Market Street Mission," now in its 3d year, is sustained by the freewill 
 gifts of our people at a cost of from $1200 to $1500 annually. One of 
 our number — Miss Bessie Babbitt— is a missionary in India, under the 
 care of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. 
 
 Many and varied are the lines of Christian activity, individual and 
 associated, which lie open to a thoroughly equipped, Christ-loving and 
 devoted church. Beloved, by the very fact of the ability and generous 
 willingness which are yours, as well as the gracious, loving-kindness af 
 our God, we are "debtors both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, 
 both to the wise and to the unwise." " Thanks be unto God for His 
 unspeakable gift." 
 
 But I must not detain you longer, although the lessons are mani- 
 fold, which the "Days" of our history and the "multitude of years " 
 teach. 
 
 Let me simply suggest in closing — 
 
 (i) The power and blessedness of united and harmonious effort m 
 the Lord's work. 
 
 We stand in the midst of turmoil and unrest in the religious and 
 social world. The days before us are evidently full of the possibilities 
 of strife and bitterness — possibilities which, if we cease to watch and 
 pray, will divert attention from the work of the Master, and make the 
 church a by-word to the worldling. 
 
3° 
 
 " Let the Peace of God, which passeth understanding, keep your 
 hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." 
 
 (2) The true purpose and design of Christ's Church must be kept 
 in mind — the deepening and developing of spiritual life ; bearing the 
 message of God's gospel to the unsaved, at home and abroad ; being a 
 living, visible witness for God's truth and his word. Remember, God 
 has not only founded the church, but marvellously preserved it through 
 the ages. Being instituted for Godlike ends, only so is it Christ's 
 Church — the Church of the Living God. 
 
 (3) What lessons — lessons of admonition and entreaty — does the 
 history of such a church as this — of any true church — bring to the un- 
 saved, and to those who still have not openly acknowledged Christ Jesus 
 as Lord and Master ! 
 
 How the memories of the past throng around us — the saintly lives 
 of fathers and mothers, the godly service and earnest prayers of pastors 
 and people, the fervent appeals from pulpit and teacher's chair, — surely 
 it would seem there could be no valid reason why any should be still 
 unsaved or unwilling to take up the duties of Christian service. 
 
 (4) Finally, as we here recall the story of the past and rejoice in the 
 prosperity of the present, and while we look forward to still larger ser- 
 vice and blessing in the days to come, let us, with a deep sense of our 
 unworthiness and dependence, say with the Psalmist : " Not unto us, O 
 Lord, not unto us ; but unto Thy name be all glory." Let it be our 
 steadfast purpose to make the days to come worthy of and an advance 
 upon the days that are gone, so that we " come behind in no gift, wait- 
 ing for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm you 
 unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the Day our Lord Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 And now, brethren, we "commend you to God and to the word of 
 His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance 
 among all them who are sanctified by the faith which is in Christ. 
 
 " The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord cause His face to 
 shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. 
 
 " The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give yoK 
 peace." Amen and Amen. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
32 
 
 STATISTICAL REPORT 
 
 OF THE^CHURCH FOR THE YEAR ENDING APRIL, 1 89 1. 
 
 MEMBERSHIP. 
 Added on Examination, . . - . 43 
 
 " by Letter, - - - - - - 27 
 
 70 
 Dismissed, - - - - - 16 
 
 Died, ....... ig 
 
 — 35 
 
 Net gain, ..---- 35 
 
 Adults baptised, - - - - - 21 
 
 Infants "-.---- 9 
 Present enrolled membership, exclusive of those on " Reserved 
 
 Roll," 680 
 
 Sabbath School membership, - - - - 774 
 
 BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS, &c. 
 
 I/ome Missiojis, - - - - - $3i553°o 
 
 Foreign Missions, - - - - -4,899.00 
 
 Ministerial Education, - - - - 320.00 
 
 Board of Publication, iS>i!o\>2X\i^<:)i^oo\v^Q>x\,') - - 108.00 
 
 Church Erection, - - - - - i39-°o 
 
 Ministerial Relief , ..... 250,00 
 
 Missions for Freedjnen, - - - - 45^-°° 
 
 Synodical Home Missions, - - - - -204.00 
 
 Aid for Colleges and Academies, - - - 85.00 
 
 American Bible Society, - - - - - 93 -O"^ 
 
 " Seamen's Eriend Society, - - - 165.00 
 
 Tract Society, ----- 53.00 
 
 Deacons' Eund, - - - - - 467.00 
 
 Cht^rch Sabbath School, ----- 400.00 
 
 General Assembly Eutid, . . . . 75°^ 
 
 Miscellaneous, ....-- 305.00 
 
 Total Benevolent Contributions, - - - $11,567.00 
 
 Congregational Expenses, - - - 9>9^9°° 
 Amount paid on subscriptions to New Organ and Sabbath 
 
 School enlargement, - - - 6,199.00 
 
 Grand Total, ... - $27,695.00 
 
33 
 
 The above Benevolent contributions are from the following sources : 
 
 [i] Weekly offerings on each Lord's Day. 
 
 [2] Sabbath School Missionary Association. The appropriations 
 last year to various objects in the Home and Foreign Field aggregated 
 $1,100.00. 
 
 [3] Woman's Missionary Society, support of Miss Youngman 
 in Tokio, Japan ; scholarship in Indian School, Albuquerque, New- 
 Mexico, and Home Mission Boxes. 
 
 [4] Young Ladies' Mission Band, support of Miss Scott of the 
 " China Inland Mission ;" work in Alaska and Korea. 
 
 [5] Men's and Boys' Missionary Fund, support of Rev- Andrew 
 Beattie and four native helpers in Yeong Kong, China. 
 
 The women of the church also bear their part in the work of the 
 Morristown " McAU Auxiliary," the " Woman's National Indian Asso- 
 ciation Auxiliary," and the " Woman's Union Missionary Society," 
 
 Two Missionaries of the " China Inland Mission" are supported — 
 one entirely, the other in part — by individual members of the church. 
 
 One of our number — Miss Bessie Babbitt — is a missionary, under 
 the care of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, in Manipuri, 
 India. 
 
 The Market Street Mission, founded in the Spring of 1889, is sup- 
 ported by the church at an annual cost of about $1200. Evangelistic 
 services are held every evening of the year. Mr. Thos. B. Ironside, 
 Superintendent. 
 
 A Brick- Yard Mission, at the Watnong Brick- Yard, is conducted 
 during the Summer by the young men of the church. 
 
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