^' rv HISTORY OF THE FIRST PHE8BYTE1HIAN CHUHCH OF BLOOMSBURY, NEW JERSEY, WITH A PRELIMINARY SKETCH OV THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM ITS EA RIJEST SETTLEMENT. BY REV. JOHN C. CLYDE, A. M., Anthor of History of the Allen Township or Irish Settlement Presbyterian Church, Penn.; Genealogies, Necrology and Reminiscences of the Irish Settle- ment; Life, Labors and Death of Rev. John Rosbrugh, Clerical Martyr of the Revolution; Life of Prof . James H. Coffin, LL.D., of Lafayette College. jAN -^ST^e^ ' >^ BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHED BY SUBSCRIPTl 1884. Ko..f*..Vli .^V< •wash; Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1883, by Rev. JOHN C. CLYDE, 111 flio. Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. T)V TO THE FRIENDS OF LOCAL HISTORY, ECCLESIASTICAL AND SECULAR, WHO RESIDE IN BLOOMSBURY AND VICINITY, THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, CHAPTEK IV. PASTOKATE OF REV. H. B. {SCOTT. BUILDING OF PARSONAGE. Pa s magj. Saerameutiil occasions. (Jail of tliinl pastor. Congregation reciistricted. Rjvival of 1870. Outpost work declining. Congregational rules. Church returns to Newton Presbyter}-. Reunion. Memorial fund Pastor's salary increased. John P. Smith legacy. Se.xton's duties. Storm injures ciiurch. 30. CHAPTER V. PASTORATE OF REV. H. B. SCOTT CONTINUED. DIFFICULTIES. Ciiurch to be used only for worship. Envelope system. Additional elder elected. Burial ground enlarged. lionise F. Kennedy Fund. Dissensions before Presbytery. ri3signatio i of thin! pastor. 39. CHAPTER VI. PASTORATE OF REV. J. C. CLYDE. Unsettled difficulties. Low spiritual state. Benevolent work suffering. Difficulties before Synod. Election of fourth pastor. Presbyterian Hymnal adopted. Attempt to organize a new cluirch. Audience room relighted. Discipline. Debt of church paid. Lecture room refitted. End of difficulties in the church. Death of elder William Tinsman. Improved condition of congregation. New side-walks. 48. HISTORY. CHAPTER I. PRELIMINARY HISTORY. General principles affecting communities. Natural surroundings. First set- tlers. The Robert Johnston tract of land south of the Musconetcong. The John Cook tract north of the Musconetcong, subsequently held by the Heanries, Kenne- dys and others. Village of Bloomsbury. Early education of community. Ec- clesiastical antecedents. Rise and progress of Methodi^sm. Tlie student of ethnology learns at a very early stage of his investi- gations that circumstances largely determine the diflerent characteris- tics wliich we see among the various parts of the human family. A river, by its even flow, and by its supply of a prime necessary of life, forms an avenue along which man finds it easy to travel, either by floating upon its bosom or by journeying upon its banks. We see the migration of mankind therefore governed largely by the courses of the streams by which the earth is watered. A mountain, by its precipitous sides and lack of those things which minister most conveniently to man's daily wants, becomes a barrier by which he is confined to certain limits, or his course of migration is deflected. The opening of public roads through the country and the construction of railroads, thus facili- tating the intercourse between mankind, constitute a powerful factor in determining the mobility of communities and the formation of ren- (I First /'n.'-l/i/firiiin (__'/i>ir<-ii nf Il/odiiishi/r'/. tcis (»r jxipiila-tioii ;iii(l trade. Tlic I'ci'tih' valley, Mliieli is ])laiite(l as a .uardeii amid eliainiiin.ii' suvi-oiiiidin^' seeiiery,^a.iid whieh yields a. saiis- r\!i;,L;- reiiini to tii(> liiisl)aii(linaiii lor his loil. tlms iiiakiiii;' liiin ])r()S]M'r- Mii--; and liaMpy, is a )>er- eei»ti;)iis, and stunt the _u'!'o\\th of the iihysieal ni;;n. ^\ij,'ain. the inHii- ences brought to beai-niioii niankiiiil throngh education, intellros]»erity, (■onvriiieiice aiul liapjiiiK'Ss. To jiir norlh in;iy hf seen tlie lower a.nd n'i')re bi'okeii i'olniteong' riliig'e! whicli ibims I lie \\\\\ nral l)onndary between tlie Mnsconetenng and, FolKitcoiig valleys. Down the vallev, at a. distance otabont a mile' from the chnrcli, tlic tlie liills close in npon each other, llms forming- in this part of tlie valley what nught be call'Ml a cff/ f/e ^(f or ..pocketj ' thns Ibrniing a. natnral bonndary to the congregation on the j^'onthwe.st and west. So com- pletely closed in is the congregation in' thiV; direction tliat the Mnsco- netcong creek struggles througli a deep ravine, with scarcely room for a. foot ])ath npon its banks, as it inipetliously rushes over its rocky bed to mingle its waters with those of tlie Delaware. To the northeast, or uji the stream, stretches the unbroken surface of the valley, Iniving merged into it, i(i\\ or twelve miles distant, tlie Pohatcong valley, and thus liolding its course to the northeast till it is lost in the hill country of Sussex county. The part of the valley occupied by the Bloomsbury congregation is a '•rich alluvial with mixture of red shale which returns large crops to the husbandman." "It is a pretty well established fact that the first white ■ settlers of the townshi[) [of Bethlehem, Hunterdon county, in w^hich the church is located] were Hollanders, and came here in the early part of I he last century. Among the descendants of the pioneer settlers who .still retain a portion at least of the original purchases, are the Hofl- nr.ins, Alpaughs, Crevelings, Hoppocks, Duckworths, Willevers, Vliets, Boss, Housels, Opdykes and others whose ancestors were pioneers along the river." "That part of the township immediately around Bloomsbury 'has come down through the ])ossession of Robert Johnston, who owned a large tract including not o\\\y what is now the village of Bloomsbury, but the farms of Moses liobins aud John Stute ou the west, and the Taylor proi)e]ty on the east of the village and running to the to)) of the jnountain. The Taylor tract was probably the eastern ^ First hrshijlvrian C/iurih. <>/ BIttoinsbiirii. piirt t)f this original tract of Kobert Johnstou. A little liutlier east was a tract owned for a short time by a man named Hamilton; then came tracts, a part of which are still in possession of the descendants of the original owners, as previonsly stated." Hh. Haa. Co. 1881, pp. 4-">7, 458. The section thus described snbstantially covers the gronnd occu[>ied by that portion of the congregation lying south of the Musconetcong creek, i. e. in Hunterdon county. When we pass to the i)ortion lying north of the cnsek and between it and the Pohatcong range, which divides the Musconetcong from the Pohatcong valley, we find tliat Jolin Cook of Frankford, Pennsylvania, had surveyed to him by Sanniel Green, on a writ from the Council of Proprietors of tlie Western Division of the Province of l!i^ew Jersey, one thousand one huiidre«l and eleven acres of land in Greenwich town- shi]), county of Htuiterdon, (as it then was) fronting on the "Muscone- konk Kiver" near Silver Hill, and the rear on "Pohatkong Brook." The survey of this tract of land was recorded in the Surveyor General's Ottice at Burlington, bearing date June 2. 1715. Hannah Cook, granddaughter of John Cook, to whom the above tract was surveyed, together with her husband William Heanrie, living in the township of Greenwich, conveyed, by deed bearing date Dec. (J. 1742, to Adam Hall and Elisabeth his wife, five hundred acres of the lower or western i)ortion of this tract of land; and Adam Hall and wife, by deed bearing date Deb. 10. 1742, conveyed three hundred and thir- ty-three and one third acres of the lower portion of the five hundred acres, aiul fronting on the "Musconekong River," to Christopher Fal- conberger; and Mr. Falcon berger acquired by deed bearing date Oct. 10. 1748, from John Reading, ninety acres adjoining the above tract on the west and rear on the line of Thomas Bryerly Esq. Adam Hall and wife, by deed bearing date Dec. IG. 1742, conveyed to Ananias Allen, one hundred and sixty-six and two thirds acres of the above nu'.ntioncd five hundred; and Ananias Allen, by deed bearing date Dec. A'-\. \1V.\ covey ed to Michael Heanrie the above mentioned yirst Fresbijtcrkm Church uf BloomnbHru. 9 one hundred and sixty-six and two thirds acres, the transaction beinjjf witnessed by John Sinitli and George Reading, and acknowledged hv John Reading. Michael Heanrie, by deed Iwaring date Apr. 0. 1752, conveyed these lands to his son Michael Heanrie Jr. Christopher Falconberger, by deed dated Nov. 9. 17.52, conveyed to Christian Sharpenstein two hundred and eleven acres, being the lower portion of his tract; it being the same land which Mr. Sharpensteiu conveyed to Jonathan Robins, and which is now owned by William N. Creveling and tlie heirs ol" John S. Robins, with other lands. Hannah Heanrie, by deed of trust bearing- date Oct. 19. 1757, conveyed to Michael Heanrie, of Readington, and William Bishop of Greenwich, six hundred and ninety-six acres of land in Greenwich township, and one hundred and thirty-two acres in Beth- lehem township, to be held in trust for her children until they arrived at the age of twenty-one years, viz : Arthur, Michael, Nathaniel, EUsa- beth, and Sarah Heanrie; being the lands fronting on the Musconet- cong creek below Bloomsbury. to the westerly line of John Cline's farm, and thence across to the Pohatcong and along Robert I. Smith's and William J. Smith's land to a white oak sapling on the north side of the Musconetcong creek by a spring. This deed was witnessed by PhiHp Chapman and William Kuowles, and acknowledged by Jonathan Petit. A deed for fifty acres was made by Christian Sharpensteiu in 1790, which was witnessed by Philip Fonger, Robert SprouU, and John D. Jaques. Adam Runkle Jr. owned lands near Kennedy's mill in Green- wich township. A deed was made in 1772, in Greenwich township, by Michael Hean- rie to Conrad Settle and included lands now occupied by R. H. Kenne- dy. This transaction Avas witnessed by Robert Calnett and Charles Hofl". There was a deed made in 1794, for ten acres, by Robert Kenne- dy and Elisabeth his wife to Peter Fishbach. The property is now owned by Robert I. Smith. This transaction was witnessed by Jacob Eichman and Enoch Kennedy. There was a deed made in 1777 by Conrad Settle to Robert Kennedy, which land is now occupied by R. H. 10 i'T/'.s/ Pnsbtjkykm Church of Blvomslniry. Kciiiic'dy. This ti'iinsactiou was witnessed by Jacob Welsh and Jesse Barber. Capt. Avtlinr Heanrie's lioinestead farm is now occupied by H. li. Kennedy. It was bounded on the east by hinds of Capt. Benja- min McCnllough. Civpt. MeCullouj»h built the liouse now occui)ied by Jesse J. Lake. He owned the hinds now in the possession of Robert I. Smith, William J. Smith, John Peter, anart lies on the north side of the creek, in Warren county." "The site of the village was owned as early as 1810 by George Beidle- mau of Eastou. His son William lived here, having charge of the estate, and the propertj' became his by heirshi]). His house was on the corner of Bridge Street and Little York road, where Henry Gardner's resi- dence now stands. Mr. Beidleman died here about 1838. His widow still lives in the village [and is a member of the Presbyterian church, Oct. 1883.]" [As to the property here referred to, another authority says it was controlled by Henry Jones and Henry Cortright, sons-in-law of George Beidleman. Subsequently the title vested in Henry Jones. Still later the property was owned by Enoch Green, another son-in-law of George Beidleman, and was controlled by his brother-in-law William Beidleman.] "The next owner of the Bloomsbury property was Henry Jones, who was a distiller and built a still house on the site now occu- pied by Hoffman's saw mill, below the grist mill. This was the pioneer distillery. He died about 1828. The house in which he lived is now occupied by Theodore Melick. In 1832 his widow built the house where widow Beidleman now lives, [on the southwest corner of Little York road and the road leading to Pittstown, or south across the road from where her husband lived and died.]" "As late as 1832 the land now occupied by Bloomsbury was a farm, and there were but five houses upon the Bethlehem side of the creek ; the old log house that stood where the brick store now is ; the old Bei- dleman house on the corner where Gardner's house stands ; the old yel- low house down the York road; and the two log houses of John L. and Bartholomew Lott. These are all standing except the first named. This was kept for several years as a tavern by Charles Tomlinson, and 1:lI Fir^t Prcsbijkrian Churrh of Bloomsbanj. was (he lirst on the south side of the creek." Hu. Han. Co. p. 461. .Viiothcr jiuthoiity sarvs the i)roi)erty was boujjht by JoNei)h Cougle and by him converted into a tavern which was kept by himself. As to (MUicational advantages it may be said tiie people of this com- munity enjoyed the common adv;iutages of the times in which they lived. These consisted, in tl.e earlier days, of private schools, and more recently of the common school system of the State. With refer- ence to the religious training of the community it may be said they have never been without it. Even before the sainted Bavid Brainerd came, to a neighboring locality in 1744, as a missionary to the Indians, with whom the whites occupied the land, missionaries had visited the region, preached to the people and founded churches. u tfhere came before the Presbytery of New Brunswick, then met at a place now called Lawrenceville,' says the quaint record, 'a supplica- tion for supplies of preaching in Mr. Barber's neighborhood, near Mus- connokunk (Musconetcong) ; and Mr. Cross and Mr. McCrea were di- rected to sui)ply certain Sabbaths at Lamingtunk (Lamington), and Mr. Barber's,' This Mr. Barber was ])robably the ancestor of Jesse Barber, father of Phineas, formerly an elder in this (Mansfield) [Washington] churcli. Subsequent records make it certain that Mr. Barber's neigh- borhood was identical with parts of old Mansfield and Greenwich; for mention is often made of supplies being sent to Mr. Barber's and Mr. Green's. The former — Mr. Barber's neighborhood — seems to have giv- en place on the records to 'Mansfield Woodhouse' whilst the latter — Mr- Green's — changes on the record to Green's-ridge — Green idge — Green- jige — and at last lower Greenwich." "Greenwich upon Delaware was the district now occupied by Belvidere, Oxford, and part of Harmony." "It is possible that the first Presbyterian houses of worship erected within our bounds, were those of Greenwich and 'Mansfield Woodhouse.' Whi(;h was the first erection it is impossible to say. But it is pretty certain that the first meeting house in Greenwich was erected between the years 1739 and 1744; for in the journal of that man of God, David T'>rainerd. he mentions having preached in Greenwich twice on Sab- I'^'ir^t Pra-biittrkni C/iunh of Bloo/ii^har)/. lo bath December 9. 1744; and when it is coiisideietl that this tiist h).u church wiinS so far decayed in 1775 as to render another buihliiii;' neces- sary, we >nay infer that it was in the ftrst ohl churcli tlnit he preaehiMl." Fiftieth Anniversary of Netrton rrcsbytery, by liev. D. X. Jtmkin^ D.I)., ji. -5. Tlie three points, then, were Oxford First, near Belvidere; Maiislield Woodhouse, (which stood on the vsoutliern slope of the Toliatcong range wliich divides the Mnscouetcong and Pohatcong" valleys, at the old bu- rying" ground adjoining the Washington, I*^^. J., cemetery — which field is now oc(aipied by the Fust Mansfield (Washington), Musconetcong Valley, and Asbury churches); and Greenwich. If the old log church first erected iu Greenwich, on the south side of the Pohatcong creek, one half or three Iburths of a mile to the south or southwest of the pres- ent church, were still standing-, it would probably be in full view, a mile and a half westward, from the site of the present Bloomsbury church. In that old log church, in 1704, Rev. John Kosbrugh was ordained to the gospel Jiiinistry and became, as far as known, the first pastor of the church. Tlie Bloomsbury district was part of that charge and under his ministry, and that of his successors. Rev. Joseph Treat (1775 — 1797), Rev. William B. Sloan (1798— 1S;M), Rev. David X. Junkin, D.D. (1835 — 1851), and Rev. Aaron H. Halid, D.D., the people Avere always provi- ded with the means of grace. Thirty-five or thirty-six years before the organization of the Presby- terian church of Bloomsbury, the Methodists commenced to work the field. It seems a circuit preacher visited the place about 1821 and held services in John Pippenger's house, where Samuel Stamets now Hves. "Rev. Samuel Hull and Rev. Jacob Hevener preached in the village oc- casionally about this time. Rev. Seely Bloomer is known to have preached at Daniel Stires' residence, then standing, near the Central Railroad arch. Willever's and Stiers' houses became the headquarters of the Methodist preachers when iu the place." "In 1835 a suitable place for public service was purchased. It was the property now owned by Joseph B. Boss, and occupied as a double dwelling, near the corner iiortli of the ehnrch. It was originally a cabinet shop belonging to a 14 ¥ir.s( Prishtjicriort CItarch ofliloointibHrij. Mr. Helmsman, and later a wheelwright shop. [Another authority says the buikling Avas originally built by Mrs. Nancy Jones for her son George, to be occupied as a wheehvriglit shop.] Henry Willever an As we have seen, the fiehl occupied by the First Presbyterian Cliiu cii of Bloom sbury was originally included in the bounds of the old historic Greenwich church, Warren county, New Jersey. As the facts rchitivc to the early hist^iry of that church may be found in a discourse dclix'er- ed at its Centenary, on the present site; in a discourse conmieniorative of the first half century of the Presbytery of Newton, by liev. David X. Junkiu, D.D.; and in ''Kosbrugh," by the author of this sketch, it is unnecessary to give, further than we have already done, a retrosi)ect of the religious characteristics of the community prior to the formation of the Bloomsbury churcli. As early as during the pastorate of Eev. William B. Sloan in Green- wich church, which closed in 1834, the formation of a churcli at Bloonis- bury was talked of. During the pastorate of liev. David X. Junkin, D.D., from 1835 — 1851, the jnatter was spoken of from time to time but no definite action Avas taken. During the early part of the pastorate of Kev. Aaron H. Hand, D.D,, commencing in 1851, the question seems to have received little or no attention. But in 1857 the subject assumed a practical aspect, so far as the Greenwich chiu"ch was concerned. In the Centenary discourse above referred to, p. 41, Dr. Junkin says: "In November, 1858 [185 7j, the Bloomsbury church was organized of persons belonging to this cluu'ch, for which purpose forty-one were dis- missed." The need of a Presbyterian church at this point was occa- sioned, at least in part, by the impetus which the place received from the extension of the New Jersey Central Eailroad through the Musco- netcong valley, to Eastou, Pennsylvania. This occurred in 1852. So great was the increase of population and resources at this point tliat it was felt to be a question, not simply of practicabdity, but of necessity that a congregation be organized and a church building erected in the locality to accommodate the forty or more Presbyterian families ,Avho were residents of the village and its immediate vicinity. The initiato- ry step seems to have been taken by William J. Smith, who, some time in August, 1857, spoke of the matter to Henry E. Kennedy. A week or so subsequent t-o this there met, informally, under the trees at the It)' l-'^/rsf i*rcsl>>iltrian Chunh of BluoiiisOi(i\'/. resideuce of liobert 1. yuiith on the north side of tlie Muscouetcoiig creek, tlie foUowinjj; ^entleiiien, viz: Jaines Bird, Henrv Gardner Sr., ])}ivi(l F. Wean, Henry II. Kennedy, William S. Gardner, Kobert J. iSinith, and William J. Smith, who discussed the subject antl resolved to attempt some practical results. The question received a [)ractica] solution when on !Sep. 1. 1837, the friends of the enter[)rise founded the church. The following subscrii>tion paper was circulated, viz: "We, the sij^ners hereunto, feeling the necessity of having a conve- nient house of worshi[> in our village, agree to pay the sums atlixed to our names toward the erection of ii church edifice for the worshij) of Al- mighty God, to be located within the bounds of the village of Blooms- bury; provided that said church edifice sha.ll be owned and occupied by a congregation hereafucr t ) be organized to be entitled and called the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomsbury. Said (congregation shall elect officers and call a pastor to preside over and minister unto said church and congregation, and shall enjoy all the imnumities and privi- leges granted and allotted to such churches and congregations accord- ing to the forms and usages of the Presbyterian church." The following names are found attaclied to this paper, viz: Henry Gardner, Rol)ert H. Kennedy, James Bird, S. C. Smith, Wm. S. Gard- ner, John Carter, H. R. Kennedy, Wm. J. Smith, Moses Robins, Joseph Lair, Wm. Tinsman, J. W. Willever, J. Gardner, J. Hance, Wm. S. Hulsizer, Joseph B. Boss, Abram James, Sarah A. Carter, Peter Snuth, Jacob Vliet, Hannah Williamson, James J. Willever, Robert I. Smith, J. C. Stewart, Tlieodore Gardner, Benjamin Parker, Samuel Jerand)er- ger, Charles Petty, John R. Smith, E. T. Vhet, Abram Hance, and Da- vid F. Wean. These persons subscribed a sum amounting in the ag- gregate to |407r). A petition signed by one hundred and twenty-nine persons was i)resent- ed to the JiTewton Presbytery at its meeting, Oct. G. 1857, by W^m. J. Smith and John T. Bird, asking that the church be organized. The re- ({uest Avas granted and the following committee was appointed to carry into ctfect the wishes of the people, viz: Revs. Hugh N". Wilson. D.T)., Fir^t Prcsbylcrian Church of Bloomsbary. 17 J. Arudt Riley, George C BusU, with ruliug elders Peter Winter, of Harinony, Adam B. Reese, of Phillipsburg, and Pljilip Muchler, of As bury. The committee convened iu the Methodist Episcopal (;hurch of Bloomsbury, on Oct. 29. of that year and attended to the (Uities of their aplK)intinent. The record of the meeting is as follows: "Certain members of the church of Greenwich, of the Presbytery of Newton, assembled in the Methodist Episcidjpal church of Bloom slnny for the purpose of organizing a church ti) l)^ called the 1st Presbyterian Church of Bloomsbury, in pursuance fJrcCrtaiin action of said Presby- tery by appointing a coriimittee thereunto, wlifereat the Rev. Doctor Wilson presided, by order of said committee'.'''' The following members were received for organization, viz: John l"! Bird, Wm. J. Smith, Sarah E. Smith, JSfih R. Smith, Sarah C. Smith, Mary Hulsizer, Nancy Mitch- ell, LycliJi Cochran, Sarah Stiner, Margaret Hance, Thoniias Young, Re- becca Ann Young, John Hance, Catharine Hance, Jane R. Smith, An- nie Parker, Abram Hance, Susan Housel, Susan McPherson, Penelope McPhersou, Deborah Young, Peter Hart, Mary Hart, Annie Creveling, Henry Gardner, Elisabeth L. Kennedy, Henry R. Kennedy, Elisabeth Gardner, Miriam K. Kennedy, David F. Wean, Absalom James, Rob- ert I. Smith, Mary H. Smith, Wm. S. Gardner, Rachel Tinsman, Joseph C. Smith, James Bird, Mary Bird, Emily A. Hulsizer, Abram W.Smith, Wm. S. Hulsizer, and Wm. Tinsman — forty-two in all, among whom were twenty-six heads of families. The same day James Bird, Henry R. Kennedy, Wm. Tinsman and W"m. J. Smith were elected to the office of ruling elder, and after a re- cess, in the evening, all (except Mr. Tinsman, who was afterwards or- dained) were ordained and installea in their office. The congregation convened in the school house in the village on the tenth day of Novem- ber of the same year, pursuant to an order of the Presbyterial commit- tee. At this meeting Rev. George C. Bush presided. Upon this date session received Wm. Tinsman by certificate from the Lutheran church and he was ordained and installed an elder. The congregation pro- ceeded to elect John T. Bird, Wm. S. Hulsizer, John Hance, and Rob- 18 First Pn'sbyteruLii Church vf Bluomshary. ert I. Smith, deacons. All but the last two were accordingly set apart to that office. At the same timp Wm. S. Gardner, Abram HaiK^e, and Joseph W. Willever were elected tnisfcec>. The e tnist.^es, under date of Nov. 16. 1857, signed and sealed their declaration of the cori)orate existence of the "First Presbyterian Chiuch of Bloomsbury," in the fol- lowing form, viz: "Whereas a meeting was held on the tenth day of Noveinber, A. J). 1857, by the congregation hereinafter to be named, for thtj purpose of electing trustees of said congregation, at least ten days previous notice of 8uch meeting having been given by a«u advertisement in open view at the place of such meeting, we, Willam S Gardner, Abram Hance, and Joseph W. Willever being elected trustees by a plurality of votes of such of the said congregation as were present, we do hereby certify that we have taken upon ourselves the name of 'The First Presbyte- rian Church of Bloomsbury.' Given under our hands and seals this six- teenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven." (Signed.) W, S. Gakdneu. seal. Abram IIanck. seal. Joseph W. Willevek. seal. This document was duly recorded Nov. 17. in Hunterdon county rec- ords, where it may be found. Special Deeds Folio, vol. Ill, pp. 376, 377. Following immediately upon this, Mr. Adam D. Riinkle donated a suitable piece of land to the congregation upon which to erect a house of worship, deeding the same over to them under date of Nov. 19. 1857. On Dec. 10. 1857, session received a letter from Rev. Sidney G. Law, of Brooklyn (formerly of Iowa), asking for an opportunity to preach to the people as a candidate for the pastoral office in the congregation. Jan. 19. 1858, session directed that he be invited to visit the congrega- tion, which he did, prejiching two Sabbaths and delivering a week day lecture. At the same time, Jan. 19. jiction was taken Avith reference to seeking supplies from the theological seminaries at Princeton and New Brunswick. Jan. 27. a letter was received from Prof. W. Henry Green. Firat Pn'sbytcriort Chunk of Bhomsburi/. 19 of Princeton Seminary, reconiuieuding Rev. Frederick A. King, of Kali- way, and Rev. W. E. Westerv^elt, of Patterson, New Jersey. On Feb. 14. session invited botli Mr. King and Mr. Westervelt to visit the coii- gregatiou and preach as candidates. They both came and preached two Sabbaths and delivered a week day lecture. The congregation now authorized the session to call a meeting for the election of a pastor. Messrs. H. R. Kennedy and VVm. Tinsman were appointed a committee te invite Rev. Messrs. George 0. Bush and James Lewers to assist in the contemplated election. This committee reported on March 4. that Mr. Bush was absent from home, whereui)on Rev. J. Y. Mitchell and Dr. A. H. Hand were invited to attend. The congregation, convened in the school house on March 3. 1858, for the purpose of taking steps for the election of a pastor. It was decided that a meeting for this purpose should be held on the G. of March. Tlie congregation accord- ingly convened on March G. 1858. Rev. J. Y. Mitchell, of Phillipsburg, presided, being assisted by Rev. A. H. Hand, D.D., of Greenwich, who offered prayer after the singing of a hymn. A sermon was preached by Mr. Mitchell, after which the election was entered into. The choice fell upon Mr. W. E. Westervelt, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Pas- saic. The meeting directed that the call be signed by a special com- mitte consisting of the following persons, viz: Henry Gardner, Sr., Ad- am D. Ruukle, and Robert H. Kennedy. Mr. Mitchell was authorized to notify Mr. Westervelt of his election. At a meeting held March 22. the congregation appointed Messrs. Wm. Tiusman and Spencer C. Smith commissioners to prosecute the call for the newly elected pastor before Presbytery. The commission- ers accordingly appeared in Presbytery, Apr. 6. at the Musconetcong Valley Church, and presented the call for Mr. Westervelt's services. The same being found in order was placed in his hands and accepted by him. Presbytery thereupon appointed a committee to arrange for the examination, ordination, and installation of Mr. Westervelt, who made the following report, viz : the time to be Apr. 15. ensuing; tlie Moderator, Rev. Henry Reeves, of Belvidere, to preside and propose ^0 i'7/vv/ Prcsbylcriun C/i'inh of Bluo/n.s/jun/. tlie coiiHtitutioual questions; Kev. W. C. Oattell to preach the sermon; llev. Dr. Hugh Wilson, of Ilackettstown, to clinr<;e the pasJor; and Kev. George C. Bush, of Stewartsville, to charge the people. The trial sermon was to be founded n[)on Koni. 5 : 1. The Presbytery according- ly met in the Methodist Ei)iscopaI church of Bloomsbury at the time appointed, at 10 o'clock, A. M., and was called to order by liev. George C Bush, the last Moderator present. Mr. Westervelt was examined in the forenoon, and at 2 (►'clock in the afternoon the ordination services took place. In the absence of Kev. Mr. Keeves, Dr. A. H. Hand presi- ded, proposed the constitutional questicms and ottered the ordaining prayer; Kev. W. C. C.ittell preached the sermon; and Kev. S. MclS^air, of Washington, gave the charge to the pastor; and Kev. George C. Bush gave the charge to the people. Mr. Westervelt having been thus installed on Ai)r. 15. 1858, went for- ward with his work among the people. At a. meeting of session held June 13. 1858, the question of making Jugtown a preaching point was discussed, and the pastor was instructed to write to Kev. James Lew- ers, of Asbury, and inquire if such step wouhl be regarded by him as an encroachment upon his field of labor. At this meeting it was form- ally decided that tlie singing in the church should be under the control of the session. The pastor was requested to draw up a set of rules and regulations for the governn)eut of the singing. This he did, reporting the same Jun. 18. They are as follows: "Impressed with the importance of having our church music conduc- ted in a manner that will be in keeping with its acknowledged sacred character, and that will be best adapted to the spiritual edification of all; and moreover, wishing to avoid if possible, those serious evils which so generally are connected with this part of divine worship; we, the session of the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomsbury do. unani- mously adopt the following resolutions and regulations,viz : Resolved 1. That the music of this church be under the immediate supervision and control of its session. Rfiolred II. That the performer on the instrument be selected from ^IrM Preab^ttriiin Church of Bhomsbartj. 21 among the members of the congregtitioii. [Player has had no salary.] Resolved III. That the singing shall be conducted by a choir, which shall be subject to the following regulations, viz : 1. The number of members constituting the choir shall be limited to twelve. {Changecified number of experienced sing- ers to unite with and assist them. 10. Seats shall be assigned to the different members of the choir by its leader ; and there shall be no changing of seats without his permiss- ion. 11. The above regulations shall be signed by the several members of the choir. The deacons were also authorized to have charge of the collections in the church, not only for the poor but also for all benevolent objects. Aug. 1. session received information from Mr. Lewers that there would be no objection to the occupying of the school house at Jugtown by the Bloomsbury congregation one Sabbath in four weeks. Accordingly 22 Fimt Pri'sbijkr'ian Charc/i of Bloonisbtay. that (lay, Aug. 1., services were coinmenced at tliat point. It was ar- ranged that there should be a i>ra.ver meeting at Blooiusbury at sueh times as tlie pastor was absent holding services at Jugtown, the second service at Bloomsbury at tliis time being held in the afternoon. Up to this time tlie i)eople had been holdhig th{nr services in the public school lumse, and were at the same time busily engaged in the ejection of their ]w\\ church 1)uilding. It was now rapidly approaching completion. It is a commodious frame structure, 44 by 08 feet, neatly finished and furnished, with a seating capacity of 7(M). Galleries ex- tend around three sides of the room. From bills on record it would seem tln^ buihling cost the following sums, viz: IV.isement $790.71 Superstructure— by A. 11. Dilts 4038.10 Furnishing 148.29 Total !^558.'i.l0 On the 0. of September the subject of the dedication of the new church was taken u}). The time tixed upon as the commencement of these exercises was Oct. 7., at 10 o'clock A. M. There were to be two services a day for four days, viz: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sab- bath. On Sabbath the sacrament of the Lord's supper was to be adnninstered. IJev. D. X. Juidvin, D.D., of Holidaysburg, Penn., was (jhosen to preach the dedicatory sermon. The selection of persons to ofliciate at the other services was left to the pastor of the church. It was decided to invite to these services the ministers and congregations of the Newton Presbytery, together with the following ministers and congregations, viz: Rev. Messrs. Coleman, Plit, Conkling, Hinkle, Will- iamson and McNair. At this meeting (Sep. (>.) Mrs. H. K. Kennedy was elected organist. Mr. John T. Bird, the leader of the choir, having removed from the congregation, resigned his i)()sition and Ilobert I. Snnth was appointebHrij. 2o On Oct. 3., iu Older to suit tlie coiiveiiieiice of Dr. Junkin, the time I'or the dedicatory services of the churcli was chanj^ed from the 7. to the 14. inst. These services accordingly took phicu at this time Mib- stantially as arranged on the (I, of Se})t. previous. U]>on thai day a collection was taken up amounting to $104.01). On Oct. iO. Dr. Junlvin was requested to furnish a copy of his dedicatory sermon for [mblication. It was also decided at this time that the expenses of delegates fro ju the congregation to Synod should be borne by the congregation. The people had now become possessed of a suitable place in which to hold their services. In anticipation of the future needs of the congre- gation they had also, (hiring the year 1858, purchased a piece ol ground adjoining that donated by Mr. Kunkle as a site for a church building. Whilst seeming to be prospered they were soon to be called upon to lament a discouraging calamity which befel their building; A territic storm swept through the valley which blew down the steeple, cracked the bell, and otherwise injured the structure. The people however soon set to work to repair the damage. On Feb. 9. 1859, a meeting of the congregation was held at which it was decided to "repair the church immediately beginning from the foundation up." The work was to be done by contract and the money therefor was to be raised by subscrip- tion. Messrs. S. C. Smith and John Hauce were added to a committee of the trustees to superintend the work. Messrs. Wm. J. Smith, S. C. Smith, John Carter, James Stewart, Rev. Wm. E. Westervelt, Henry Gardner, Sr., Thomas Young, Joseph C. Smith, John R. Smith and Wm. Tinsman were appointed a committee to solicit contributions from the ditterent churches to meet the expenses of these repairs. At the same time Messrs. Robert I. Smith and H. R. Kennedy were appointed a committee to procure a bell. The work here referred to was done by the Kellars, of Easton, Penn. James Gardner was an active and lead- ing participant on the part of the congregation, in securing a reparation of the injury sustained by the building. Wm. Chapman, of Chapman's Quarries, Northampton county, Penn., from whom had been purchased the original roof, now donated slate for a new roof and had the same put on at his own expense. 24 Fir. •it Prcibijterian C/iunh of Blooinabari/. Nov. 1. 1859, the hoar of the second service, wliich had been in the afternoon, was changed to evening. At this time the qnestion of ma- king Garrison's school honse, on Mnsconetcong monntain, a preaching paint was discnssed, bnt no definite action taken rehitive tliereto. Tlie question 'vas discussed of dividing the congregation into districts to be under the sui)ervision of the different members of session for a given time, during which tiiey were to visit tlie families assigned to them and at the end of the specified time report to session. Decision upon the matter was deferred until after tlie pastor should preach on the subject of the duties of ruling elders. The (piestion of securing a better sttend- ance n])on the jmiyer meeting was discussed: also that of having a sess- ional conference and prayer meeting statt^lly. This met with a[>proval of all, but definite action thereon was deferred to a future meeting. On ]\lay li. l.SOO, tlie question of dividing up the congregation into districts was again taken up. The following division was made, viz: "To Mr. Tinsman were assigned all the families on the south side of the Mnsconetcong (;reek and east of Mrs. Widow Boss' place, whose house is the starting point; to Mr. Bird were assigned all the families on the same side of the creek westward from liis own house, as far as church street, with three families on it; to Mr. Kennedy were assigned all the families on the north side of the creek; and to Mr. Sniith those on the south side westward from church street and southward from Alexan- dria street to the uttermost bounds of the congregation, excepting the families of Messrs. John K. Smith and Peter li. Smith." It was now decided that the pastor should preach on the subject of the duties of ruling ehlers, on Sabbath, May 27., and at that time acquaint the people with the action of session as to districting the congregation. Oct. 14. 18(50, Mrs. H. li. Kennedy resigned the position of organist and Miss Mary Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Westervelt having expressed his desire to resign tlie pastoral charge of the congregation, a special meeting of Presbytery was held at Bloomsbury, July 2. 18G1. After hearing Mr. Westervelt, and Spencer C. Smith, the commissioner from the congregation, the ])astoral relation First Presbyterian Church of Bloom^buri/. '^o was dissolved. The church was granted leave to supply its own pulpit, and Rev. Mr. Tully was appointed to declare the pulpit vacant, on the succeeding Sabbath. During the pastorate of Mr. Westervelt forty-one persons had been received into the church, sixteen on profession and twenty-iive by certificate. These with the Ibrty-two who came in at the organization, made a membership of eighty-three, Jan. 13. 18G1. Seven couples had been married and nineteen infants had been bap- tized. CHAPTER in. PRELIMINARIES TO REUNION. PASTORATE OF REV. MR. VAN DYKE. CaMing of second pastor. Church transferred from Newto7i to Raritan Pres- bytery. Revival of 1861. Sabbath school work. Dissensions. Outposts at Garrao?i\s, Bethlehem and Franklin school houses. Election of additional elder and deamns. Reunion. Pastor^ s salary increased. Church injured by light- ning. Resignation of second pastor. On July 7. 1861, session invited Mr. Joseph S. VanDyke, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Elisabethtown, to preach the next Sabbath as a candidate for the pastoral office in the congregation, with the under- standing that subsequent oppOTtunity to preach would be afforded by session. This invitation was accordingly accepted by Mr. VanDyke. On July 21. he was invited again to preach as a candidate on two suc- ceeding Sabbaths, which invitation he also accepted. On Aug. 4. sess- ion received two petitions of like import signed by one hundred and 20 i^'/yvs/ I*rcsb{jti:rkiii C/turch of Bhoinabiiry. tliiity six juembers and siipi>orters ot'the cliiircli, I'equesting; theai to call ;i meeting- for tlie election of a pastor. The request was. j;raute(l and the time for the meeting' \vas lixed for Tuesday. Aug. (J., at 2 o'clock V. 31, Elders James Bird and VVm. Tinsmau wer<', api)ointed a coin- jnittee to invite liev. George C. Bush to preside at the Jneeting. The (•ongvegation acconlingly met on Aug. G., Mr. Bush presiding, at which time Mr. VanDyke was elected jiastor, ou a salary of $050, payable semiannually. The (;all was signed by all the officers of the chur(;h l)resent and attested by the moderator and secretary of the meeting. On Aug. 24., the (piestion of holding services at Hawk's school house was discussed and ehler Smith was appointed to accompany the pastor elect to that point to ascertain if such service was desirable. Sep. 2iJ. in accordance with action previously taken in congregation- al meeting, session recorded the appointment of S. C. Smith and Daniel Williamson as commissioners to prosecute the call for Mr. VanDyke before the Piesbytery. These gentlemen accordingly ai)peared in Pres- bytery and performed the duty assigned them. Oct. 10. Mr. VanDyke preached his ordination sermon and was installed pastor of the churchr In 1- ses Robins and Charles Petty, deacons; Wm. Vliet, Abram Hance, Jos- eph W. Willever, Theodore Gardner, Robert I. Smith, Daniel William- son and Wm Welsh, trustees. It was decided to ordain the elder aiul deacons elect the ensuing Sabbath. In the hitter i)art of 1800 the oflBcers of the church felt the import- ance of arousing the people to a greater activity and more unreserved consecration to the Master's work. Accordingly on Nov. 11. 1800, it was arranged to hold a sessional prayer meeting on the first Sabbath of each month, and a communicants prayer meeting ea^li Sabbath previ- ous to (communion. Whilst thus looking after the internal welfare of the congregation the session was not blind to the great interests of Zi- on in lioneral. At this time Ww question of reunion of the two branch- J^^tr^t Frcbbtjtcriiut Church of Bloom^buri/. . 20 es of the church WHS claiiiiiijg the attention ol" the peoi)le. To yhoAv their interest in the matter the session, on Sep. 22. 18G7, instructed its delegate to Syno I'l'ople felt able to pay, the pastor could not rent a house, maintain his family and at the same tinre devote himself to the pastor- al work with that efhciencv which the circumstances of tlie ease seemed J^lrst Presbijicridn Church of JJluoiii.shtiri/. ol to require. Accordingly at the meetiug" of the cougiegcitioii ]\Iay 1. tlie following; action Avas taken relative to the building of ai parsoiiiigo: ^^Wherea-i the people of thits chiu'ch and congregation liavc long iolc the im[>ortance of possessing a i)ar.sonage, and in the early ])c)io(l of the organization of this church, a piece of ground was purchased for such building, and Whereas cartiihi members of this churcli have voluntarily gone amidst the congregation and submitted the nuitter to respective heads of lami- lies with a view to obtain their opinion, and if favorable, to solicit sub- scriptions toward the immediate ere(;tion of such edifice, and Whereas the unanimous sentiment is favorable, and liberal donations have been subscribed and assured, amounting to about '$18o0, and oth- er gentlemen of the congregation and neighborhood having expressed a determination to give when the building shall be in a state of progress, therefore it is Resolred that a building committee be appointed and the work com- jiienced immediately." The building committee appointed consisted of Messrs. John Peters and Moses Kobius. As we have intimated, the people had secured by purchase from Mr. Adam Runkle, in 1858, a lot of ground adjoining that donated by him for the site of the church building. Upon this piece of ground, which lay directly south of the church lot, the parson- age was erected. After a few unimportant additions and changes, it furnishes a commodious and comfortable home for the pastor of the church, being 22 by 59 feet, ground plan, and containing twelve apart- ments exclusive of halls, pantries, attics &c. A congregational meetiug was held Xov. 9. 18G9,at which time the committee appointed May 1. of that year, to build the parsonage, made the following report, viz : Contract price $2200.00 Extras 42.25 Labor and material by congregation not included 243.28 Total $2485.53 lur^t Prcihijlcrian Clmrch of JBlootnshurif. Amount on subsciiption, paid and uni)iiid ^I'OO.J.OO Biiliincc due and uni):iid 4813.5.') Total $li48r>.5o The cnmniittee in charge was continued to collect the balance of the Kubsciiptions, alter which tlie trustees were authorized to assume the remainder of the indebtedness. The thanks of the cony:regation hav- ing been bestowed upon the comniittee Avho built the ])arsonage, atten- tion was imniediately turned, at this meeting, Nov. ()., to the matter of erecting a barn for the use of the i)astors. In the interest of this ob- ject Henry K. KtMinedy i)urchased a lot from the New Jersey Central 11. K. Co., which adjoined the church lot on the north and which fronted on the centre street of the village. This lie donated to the congrega- tion, and in duo time the desired building was erected thereon. During the vacancy succeeding INIr. VanDyke's i)astorate, a number of ministers preached for the peo[>le, among whom we find the names of llev. Messrs. Jameson, Kugler, Dole, Deruelle, Simonson, Grant, Car- rol and Scott. The session decided, June 5. IS(JJ), to invite three of these ministers to preach three successive Sabbaths, as caiuli])er were changed from the second Sabbath in February, May, August and November resi)ectively, to the second Sabbath in May, September and January, thus having three sacramental occasions instead of four. At this time record was made of the fact that the above named clergymen IkuI preached to the congregation as arranged, including also Kev. H. r>. Scott, who had bc^en informally invited. It %vas thought the people Avere ready to elect a pastor, and the session called a congregational meeting, to convene July 17., to take action in the 7uatte.r. Elder James Bird was apj)ointed a committee to invite Kev. J. B. Kugler to preside on the occasion. The meeting was held as appointed, at which Rev. H. r>. Scott was elected pastor. On August L';>. of this year (1801)) the congregation was again divi- First Fresbt/ta'km Church of Bloviiiabarij. 88 ded up, rts it lijid beeii done previously, iuto districts ;is follows, viz : '"'■Resolved that all the population located south of the Muscoiietcoiig' river, and east of the north and south avenue, including the families of George W. Ra<;e and Charles Petit, be conlided to the care ol" (^Ider Win. Tinsman; all the population loi^ated south of Bird street and east of Church street (in the village of Bloomsbury), be confided to the care of ehler James Bird; all the population located north of Bird street and west of Church street, be confided to the care of elder Wm. J. Smith; all the population located north of the Musconettsong river, be confided to the care of elder Henry 11. Kennedy." In the early part of 1870 another manifestation of the especial pres- ence of the Holy Spirit in the congregation was enjoyed. Jan. 8. seven were received on profession of faith, and on the 2,'J. of the same month, thirty-six were admitted A si)ecial sacramental occasion was observed on the 30. of the month for the special benefit of those who had been admitted to the church. At the close of the pastorate of Mr. VanDyke it seems the outpost preaching was discontinued. The matter however was discussed again May 7. 1870, at which time Mr. Scott expressed his intention to preach occasionally during the summer, at Garrison's school house. June II. 1870, "The trustees elected to serve the church for this year, met this day and were duly organized. The following persons were elected as the annual officers of the board: Mr. Daniel Williamson, president; Mr. Theodore Gardner, secretary; Mr. Kobert I. Smith, treasurer. *Mr. Abraui Hance was appointed a committee to keep the church and parsonage in repair and see that all necessary repairs are promptly attended to &c.; Mr. E. I. Smith, a committee to rent pews and see to the collection of the same." The following rules and by-laws were unanimously adopted : "The secretary shall keep a strict account of all business ; of all mon- Gy raised and the object for which it has been raised, and the object for which it has been appropriated, and that a strict account in Avriting shall be annually submitted to the congregation, when a committee o4 J^lrst Fri-^bykria)i Church of Bloomsburt/. shall be appointed to examine and andit the accounts of secretary and ti'casurer. "The ^rnstees shall appmpriate all moneys to the special object lor which said money was raised or collected. No money shall be other- wise appropriated unless by a two thirds vote of the board at its regu- lar meeting. "In order to meet the wishes of all and remove the objections of some, the following laws were uiauimously adopted by the congiega- tion on Feb. 9. 1850, and reaffirmed on Apr. 1. 1870." Rule I. No pew in the middle aisle shall be rented by halves, or to two families or individuals, when one family desires to rent and occupy the same. llULE II. That the practice of renting one half pews to communi- cants of more than three i)ersons in the familj' be hereafter discontin- ued, as being an infringement on the rights of fellow communicants. Rule III. All communicants and all hesids of families who are com- municants, shall be reijuired to furnish themselves and families with sittings in the church, i Rule IV. Each party renting a pew shall he held responsible for said rent, and no person shall in any case be permitted to sublet or rent any part of said pew. Rule V. All single persons who are communicants, shall be re/. 35 part of the "Memorial Fund" for the consummatiou of the union be- tween the two branches of the church. Apr. 8. 1871, at a congregational meeting, "It was on motion drcided that the congregation now elect two new trustees to till the vacancy now in the board, occasioned by the expiration of the term of oltice of two of the board. The following pervsons were elected again for the term of six years: Abram Hance, Joseph W. Willever. It was then on motion decided that we now reelect the whole board, and it was car- ried unanimously." At a congregational meeting held Jan. 20. 1872, it was decided to increase the pastor's salary to $120U per annum. In or- der to meet this^additional sum, Henry R. Kennedy, Wm. S. Hulsizer and Joseph C. Smith were appointed a committee to act with the trus- tees in assessing an amount, not exceeding $200, pro rata upon the pews, except the two front ones in the middle block. The trustees were also instructed to declare A'acant any pews on which the full amount of rental was not paid. July 14. 1872, session resolved to main- tain a sessional monthly concert of prayer upon the last Saturday of ejicli month. We find at this period of the church's history that those who were its friends in life did not fail to remember it in death. This is shown by a minute adopted in congregational meeting, Nov. 23. 1872, which is iSelf explanatory and which is as follows: " Wherem at a previous meeting of the congi-egation held in the church, the board of trustees were appointed a committee to ^raise a given sum of $1500 in order to secure a legacy left this church in the will of John P. Smith, deceased, asked to be relieved, and move that the elders of the church serve in their stead." This legacy was duly secured by the congregation. A congregational meeting was held July 20. 1872, for the purpose of electing trustees and attending to other matters of importance. Ow- ing to the fewness of the persons present, the meeting abjoiu-ned to meet on the 27. of the^ same month. The congregation accordingly convened at that time and elected Joseph C. Smith and John S. Carter 3(5 jFlrst Fre-^liyteriaa Clninh of Bloouisbmif. trustees. At this meeting the following action Wiis taken with rel'er- ence to the legacy bequeathed to the congregation by John P. Smith, •li'ceased, viz : "II7(e/m>' the hiie .T(>hn P. Smith, ol' t!ie township of Greenwich, county of Warren, and st;itc of New Jersey, in his last will and testa- ment did bequeath to the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomsbury, in the county of Hunterdon, state aforesaid, the sum of one thousand dol- lars upon the condition that the said church raise in actual cash the sum of lifteen hundnMl dollars within one year after the decease of said donor, John P. Smith, aforesaid, therefore be it Resolve:}., that the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomsbury having been duly called to meet on this 27. day of July, 1872, for the transaction of congregational business, do instruct and au- thorize the trustees of said church to raise the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, aiul so comply with the conditi(mK in said bequest." On Apr. 14. 187.i, the trustees took decisive action with reference to delinquents in pew rent; they resolved that the names of all delin- (pients in i>ayment of their pew rent, with the several amounts, shouhl be conspicuously posted in the vestibule of the church for the space of twenty days, and if said pew rent remained unpai/. 87 Fifth. Gates to be pioiJeily opeiied^^iuid closed, and chuicli jiiouiKLs to be kept clear of all loose mbbisli ; tlie walks &c. to be ke[)( elear (»!' snow and other obstructions. 8rxTH. The g'rave-yard to be mowed twice each year, once in fliine, uud once ill September, and not later in each nioiitli than the 15., the grass to be removed from the yard. The eaith irom the graves to be removed from each plot within one nionth from the time of digging of the grave, the ird be secured to assist tli«; church in securing' tJie legacy of the late John P. Smith." "A notice fiom the solicitor of the estate of the late John P. Smith, notifying the board to appear in chancery at Tren- ton, N. J., on July 10. LS7;5, was then read, and on motion Daniel Will- iamson was authorized to boiTow the will of the late John P. Smith from his widow for a short time for the use of the church in the matter of the legacy." July 28. l.S7.">, the trustees met. "On juotion it was resolved to post- i>one notices of delinquents until the church should be ready for servi- ces." From this it would a]>])e,ir thai, the repairs consequent ujion the chun'-h's being struck by liglitning were now in juogress. It was deci- ded at this time to have the vestibule fiescoed in oil instead of water colors as originally agreed upon. In coujiection Avitli repairs ui)on the churcii there were some repairs made at the parsonage at tliis time. The ladies now raised money and refurnished the church and had the same neatly frescoed. At a meeting of the congregation held Aug. 14. 1873, the following action was taken with reference to repairs ui)on the church : "7Vfoo/(Tf/, that the trustees of (he First Presbyterian Ciuuch of Blooujsbury be instructed by said congregation to expend the balance of money on hand to finish painting said church in the inside, and on the outside if deemed necessary, and to cari)et said church, together with any other rei)airs, if needed; and tluit the trustees shall give an order on the treasurer for the anumnt, who is authorized to pay tlie same out of the funds in his hands, that are not otherwise appropria- ted." The danuige to the church by lightning was assessed and i)aid by the insurance comi)anies issuing the policies upon the building. It was out of t hese funds the abovc^ refeired to expenses were to be i)aid. The trustees of the church felt that this was not a proper application of the fiiiKls in question and accordingly, in a me«»ting lield Aug. 2'o. tliey i'Trus/ rrtshijkriKn CJtunJt vf Bluvinaburij. oO '•''Rewlced lluit the board of tiustees do hereby express tlieir dissatis- Itictiou with the action of the congregational meeting lield on Aug. 14., in regard to tlie disposition of the moneys received from tlie insnrance companies, said action being in op[)OHition to the expressed wish of the whole board at a previous meeting, and it was further B&ioh-cd, that a copy of tliis resohition be forwarded to the secretary of each insurance company." The contract for painting the churcli was then awarded, and Wm. S. Gardner, Theodore Tinsnuin and John S. Carter were appointed a committee on speciflcations, and to oversee the work. CHAPTER V. PASTORATE OF REV. MR. SCOTT CONTINUED- DIFFICULTIES. CJii/rch to be used only for worship. Envelope system. Additional elder elect- ed. Btirlal (/round enlarged. Louise F. Kennedy Fund. Di.^sensioiis before Presbytery. Resignation of third pastor. At a meeting of tlie session held Jan 31. 187d, there was an inter- change of opinion on the subject of church liuauces and a determina- tion manifested to "coiTect seeming irregularities of system." Also the repeatedly recurring "subject of absenteeism occupied the attention of session." The latter subject came up again in session Feb. 5., at which time three elders were appointed a committee to interview the churcli members who are habitually absent from church ordinances. At this same meeting tlie following action was taken, viz: -10 i'/V.s/ Pi\'shtjkfiaii. C/icrc/i uf l)/<)oin.'/. '•H'A'/vv/s this clmi'ch edifice was dedicated unto the Great Head of (lie eliuicli, for the us(> of Iiis worsliij), iuul ]\'/i('r('ji.'> exliibitions and sliows of a churcli desecrating;' cliaraeter, injuriously affect the cause of religion and hinder spiritual growth, therefore Rr-M)lve(l that this cluirch shall be used for the Lord's worship and the maintenance of his ordinances, and any uses derogatory thereto will not be i)er]nitted." The financial condition of tlie church at tliis time seems to have been satisfactory, as shown by the following action taken in congregational meeting, Apr. 11. 1874, viz: "i?^sf>'(;c/ that a vote of thanks b;i tendered to Win. J. Smith and llobert I. Smith f )r their eUicient services in raising money, and their great financial ability in thus liaving raised sufficient funds to liquidate tlie indebtedness of the church." At tliis meeting it was decided that the number of trustees shouhl be thre(5, and Mose.^ Kobins, Wm. Dairy mple and John Stute were elected to that office. It was also directed that the pew rents should be c )1- lected quarterly. I)ui)licates were to be made out one month previous to the time when the nmts were due and two collectors were to receive the money, one for Warren and ojie for Hunterdon county. There be- ing now only three trustees, they met Apr. 28. 1874, and assigned to each one his special ressed First Presbyta'iau Chtn'tJi <>/ Bluvinsburij. 41 Avilliiigness to return to dut;\'. At this meeting" however an elder wa.s appointed to interview anotlier delinquent. lieport was ina.r. 27., "a letter Fird rrc.^hiilcrltm Chunhof Bloom. ^hiir;j. [Z fioiii [coinplaiiiaiit] wliicli wa.s r. \il. 187(i) a nniinber of tlie church asked for a letter of dismission to unite witli tlie Greenwic^li Presbyterian church. The cmise of this was recognized to Ik5 the distnrl»ed state of urt'airs in the churcii. Accordingly an eliK)inted a committee to advise with the a[)i>licant with reference to the matter. This how- ever wjis of no avail and the meniber took iiis certificate, Mar. G., and joined the neighboring church, together with three others who left for the Maine reasons that actuated him. At the meeting of May 0., the complainant above referred to "appear- ed before session and asked leave to withdraw certain avowed intention of making charges against certain two memljer« of this church." The request was granteoring church of Greenwich, the cause being the unsettled condition of the church. Apr. 7. 1877, the people assembled in congregational meeting and elected Wm. Tinsman, Valentine Young and Moses Kobins trustees. Mr. Young declined to serve and John Hance wa« elected in his place. The same day the trustees held a meeting, at which Wm. Tinsman was elected president; John Hance secretary; and Moses Kobins treasurer. Aug. ;30. the i?iternal commotions of the church again coses. Resolved 2. Tiiat the money received from sai«l lands or plots be set apart and not used for other pur[K)ses. Resolved 3. Tiiat the price for lots sold be the sanie as the old plots, and sold only for cash or on good and approved security. Dec. 31. 1877, the dissensions in the congTegation are again noticed by session. The committee in one case of absenteeism "reported favor- ably." At the same time two elders were api>ointed a committee to wait up'>n certain other parties rel.itive to their delinquencies. A committee was also appointed to wait upon a member of session "in re- lation to his absence from the stated means of grace." The member of session beiiig present, explained that "i)hysical disability in his laujily and in his own case caused his absence from church during the past four Sabbaths." A second committee was appointed at this time to wait upon another derelict clnirch member. Jan. 1!). 187S, "The com- mittee to visit certain parties reported in part, and the same wa« accep- ted and the committee contimied in one of the cases under considera- tion. At this meeting of Jan. IJ). 1878, a comnumication relative to the sabbath-school was considered but action thereon deferred. The matter however came up again Feb. 4., at which time it was decided to appoint officers in tlie school for one year. Elder Wm. J. Smith was appoint- ed superintendent, Robert I. Smith treasurer, Peter Hulsizer librarian, and chlcr llobins secretary. The session, as a committee, undertook the ]n'ocuring of a library. The envelope system of collections for be- nevolent objects and incidental expenses, which had been in use for some time, was at this nioeting (Feb. i. 1878) ordered discontinued i'Tr^/ Pndii/krum C/i'irch of Bloontsbiirij. 45 niitil the end of'Miiy ensuing-, iind ji semi-monthly collection was (akeii in its place. At this tijne the Louise F. Kennedy Fund, for the bcnriil of the i)oor of the congTegation was established. The young' hidy whose name the fund bears was a daughter of elder ITenry li. Kennedy. ]>ying in the bloom of womanhood she did not fail to reinend)er the (•lunch of which she was a mend)er and that in behalf of the Loi'd's un- fortunate ones. In accordance with her wishes her father, after her death, cajried out her schejue by making over to the cojigregation three shares of the capital stock of the Bloomsbury National Bank lor this purpose. Apr. 21. 1878, at a congregational meeting, Wm. S. Hulsizer was elected trustee to fill the place of Dr. Creveling who declined to serve. Ou the 27. the trustees organized by electing Wm. S. Hulsizer, presi- dent; John Hance, secretary; and Moses Kobins, treasurer. The dissensions which, as we have seen, existed in the congregation, came before Presbytery in the s})ring of 1878. We find the following iu the minutes of Presbytery, Apr. 10. 1878, relative to the matter, viz: "Papers i)ur[)orting to come from the congregation of Bloomsbury having been placed in the hands of the Moderator, they are ordered to be referred to a special committee." "The Moderator announced as this committee, Eev. A. A. Haines, Pev. J. M. Maxwell and ruling elder J. G. Shipmau." This committee reported as follows, viz: "The com- juittee report that iu the minutes of the congregational meeting fur- nished them, no Commissioner Avas appointed to this Presbytery, and the whole difficulty seems to arise from the disaffection of a very lew persons with the pastor; and that the committee cannot find that there is any difficulty existing in the church to render it necessary for Pres- bytery to send a committee to them. The}' therefore recommend that the request to send a committee to the cluuch of Bloomsburj , and the papers be returned to the person handing them in." This a(;tion on the part ot Presbytery did not have the effect of healing matters con- trariwise seemed to put fuel upon the tire. One evidence of this was manifested in the immediate expression of a desire on the part of mem- bers of the church to be dismissed to other churches. May 11. 1878, 4';) Fd'st Pi(sbi)U')''iaii Charvh of JjInuiH^Oin''/. seven [)er.soiis asked tor letters ofilisinissioii, two of whom, it w;is allej;- e to granting th(^ request on tlic ground til, it it was believed by inend)ers of session tluit the i)arties had chang- ed their minds, and had made no written application for dismission. As the time for tlie fall meeting of Presbytery drew near the ditlcrent factions juaniteste 1 renewed activity. In the minutes of session, Se[). 7. 1878, it was recorded that an elder started the subject of electing a delegate to the next meeting of Presbytery, whereupon the moderator s[)oke adversely thereto and left the room. In the minutes of Presby- tery, Oct. 1. 1878, we read: ''Certain papers having been ])lacBd in the hands of the Moderator for the consideration of the Presbyteiy they wore ordered to be referred to a committee.'' This committee consisted of Kevs. J. J. Cnme, J. P. Clarke and ruling elder Mr. John White, This conunittee rei)orted I'ei^ommending that the ])apers in question be placed in the hands of the Judicial Committee. The Judi- cial Committee's report in the matter is as follows: "The second paper placed in the hands of the committee, referring to matters c )nn<'cted with the congregation at Bloomsbury, is one of which the committee is divided in judgment. But it being reported that serious ditticuUii^s ex- ist in that congregation the committee reconunend that a committee of three ministers and two elders be appointed to visit it duiing the month of December next, to inquire into its state, and to report at sucli nu'eting of the Presbytery as the Moderator shall call in i)ursu:iiu'(^ of its request." "The following were appointed the committee called for in the above report: Kev. A. A. Haines, Rev. Alexander Proudfit, Rev. J. F. Shaw, and ruling elders Thomas liyerson, M. I), and Mr. Charles E. Vail." "The committe, to which was referred a pajjcr which had been placed in the hands of the Moderator for the cosideration of the J*resl)ytery, made a report, that it found said pa|)er purporting to be a l)etition from certain nuMnbers of the church of Bloomsbiuy, with refer- ence to three ruling elders of that church: that it found the paper to be in order and laid it before Presbytery lor such action as it deemed ])roi)er. The report was accepted and the paper was ordered to be re- I^h'fst IW^bi/hritih ChiiVih of Blu. Kugler, and ruling' elder J. G. Shii>man." This committee reported as follows: "The Committee appointed to decide who is the legally ap- pointed delegate from the church of Bloomsbury to this Presbytery, re- port that they have examined the minutes of the session and they find that on Sep. 30. 1878, at a meeting of the session of tlie church, elder * * * was appointed a delegate to the meeting of Presbytery, Avhich was to meet at Greenwich, on the tirst of October, then next ensuing and for no other meeting of Presbyiery, There is no authentic minute of any delegate having been appointed to this meeting of the Presby- tery, and the committee therefore report that in their judgment, accor- ding to the second decision of the Assembly, the session of the Blooms- bury church has no elder legally appointed to this Presbytery." The report of the committee to visit the church is as follows: "The committee appointed by Presbytery to visit the church of Bloomsbury during the month of December, to inquire into its state, would report that they visited the church on the 3. inst. A full hearing was aflbrd- ed to all who presented themselves on that and the following day. The following paper was subsequently placed in the hands of the com- mittee, liev. H. B. Scott offers his resignation of the pastorate of the First Presbyteiian Church of Bloomsbury, said resignation to take effect on the tirst day of January, 1879, and he promises to remove from the town of Bloomsbury by the first day of March, 187'J, and the representatives of the church promising that they will pay Mr. Scott all arrears of salary by January 1. 1879, and six mouths salary- in addi- tion, three hundred dollars on April 1. 1879, and three hundred dollars on July 1. 1879. [Signed.] H. B. Scott, Moses Robins, Jos. C. Smith, -18 lursl rrisl)tjU:riaii C/nirch of Jjlouiitshar^. (iiastt'o), Will. TinsiiKui, II. K. Kennedy, Win. J. Smith, Wni. Dahym- l)lt', Kobert I. Smith, John Gardner. Theo. Tinsman. The committee would recommend tliat tlie resignation ot'liov II. B. Sc )tt be accei>ted, to take effect Jan. ]. 187J), and that the diurcli be re(]uired to pay the money promised in the above agreement. Kev. ]\Ir. Scott then pre- sented his resignation as pastor of the congregation at Bloomsbury. The representati\^s from said congregation, and who having signed tlie above paper, a]>i)eaied in the Presbytery and signitted their acqui- escence to the resignation of tlieir pastor, when it was Resolved, That the lie v. H. B. Scott having i)re.sented his resignation as pastor of tlie First Presbyterian Church of Bloomsbury, to take effect on the tirst day of January, 1871), it be accepted, and that the pastoral relation be dissolved, the dissolution to take effect at the time mentioned." "Rev. Wm. Thomson was aj^pointed to preach in the church at Bloomsbury on Jan. o. 1871), and »jlcra(n Cliurvh <>/ JJluui/i.^Imr/j. Ai) C'diics i-arricd before i'^i/ikkL Klni'iDii cj Jourlh [iK.^hn-. I'rvsliijtcrhi.n Jli/nnm' (idoptcd. Attempt to orrneed coiKlitioi! of roniirif/o- tion. Xeir .s/r/{'-;r(f //."•-.•. It would 8('om that the Pi-csbytcry, at its iiice'tiiig' in DccciuiK'r, Io7S, (■{iiiAialiilatt'd iUoll'lhal iil! il:e ditl'dillies in the lliooinsliuiy chiircli had hccn settled. In this however, they were sadly deceived. Jan. 5. 1879, the very day tlse i>ul[>it \y;i< declared vacant, there was a. iiieetinij;' of session held, moderated by llev. Wm. Thomson, at which the libra- rian of the sabbath-school sent in his resignation, sidd resit^iiation (growing' out of the troubles in the church, as it was understood. It Avas proposed nt tliiy meeting also to appoint a committee to wait on ten members ot the church with reference to their derelictions in duty. The design however, we believe was not carried into effect. IVIar. Ii3. (or Apr. ~>.) LST'J, the congregation elected Robert I. Smith, .Jesse J. Lake ;ind John Ilance, trustees. The ditliculties in the church, wliich we have seen were not settled, it would seem assumed two leading characteristics, viz: some in the congregidion desired the rcmova.l of the ])astor, others the removal of a part of tlie session. To meet the exigehcle.S of the case with reference to both i)iirties, Presbytery had secured the resignation of the pastor, and directly or indirectly advised the congregation to elect additional elders if they were not satisfied with those in office. Accordingly Mar. 3i. 187D, the following action was taken, viz: Besolvcd, The session have long been impressed that the spiritual wants of the people living in the vii)per or eastern section of the church territory, demand that a. ruling elder be located in their midst, so as to enable more efficient and prom])t spiritual care, therefore Jie.sohed, That the session of this church accord opportunitA' for the election of one or more luliug elders whenever the members of the church or a majority thereof express such desire or the Presbytery sha.U take onh^r thereto. In the report to Presl>ytery adopted at this meeting (Mar. 31. 1879) oO Mr^f Pi('.shi//< riaii Church, of Blmmisbiirij. the Iblknviiig i)t':irs, viz: "The iitteiultiiice ofeoimunuicaiits on .sacni- ineiital occasions has not been so birge us in ibriuer years, and the con- _i;Te<4;i'tion of \V()rshii>ers lias diminished." "JJ.v order of Presbyteiy the Jve\'. Will. Thomson j)reai'he session liowever, was not acce'pt- able to tlnit portion of tlie congregation which desired the lemoval of certain elders. The Presbytery therefore, at its stated meeting, Apr. *.». 1, found itself con fi-on ted with the old diiticulties, a.s will be seen from the following record: "Tlu' committee to which was referred a certain pa.})er placed in the hands of the nuxlerator for the consideration of Presbytery, i)r<'sented the following report: The committee appointed to examine and report ui»on a i)aper put into the ha.nds of the modm-ator finds said pai)er to b'' a i>etition ijurnorting t<) come from a mijority of the cojumunicants (tf tilt; church of lUoomsbnry, in ac(iordau(;e with tlie advice of Presby- tery given at the meeting at the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, Dec. IS. 1S78, jjiaying Presbytery to advis<^ the session of that church U) take order for the retirement of certain ehlers from service in that chincii, or to take such action as the Presbvtery may deem bt'st to se- cure their removal. The comnnttee recognizes the right of petition in general. It cannot admit however, that it is correct to say that Pres- bytery has given advice that that light be exercised in this case. On the contrary we believe tha^ the action taken at Oxfor«l wms, and was intended to be a definitive settlenumt of the matters then in dispute. This was the intent of the agreement which stands on the records of Presbytery signed by those who were i-egai'ded ais jvpresentatives of l^'ir^f J'lrsl^'jUrli'it Church of JJlvvin.^lxirij. .")! nil iiiteiests involved. Tliis beiu^' so, we eannot but le^iud the pie- sentatioji of the petition as an iutViiigeiueiit upon that aj^ieeiiieiit: and Ibr tJie rresbvtery to aet in a la\<)iable sense npon Ihis j clilion would be to make itself a partv to a breaeli of faith. We iH^eoniuu'ud lliere fore that tlie i)etition be icturned to those froui whom it j)Uipoits lo eome." This report was adopted, wliereui)oii "VKev. H. ]>. k^entt, in l>e- half of the petitioners whose names arc aUaehed to the abo>'e i)a]>er, yave iu)tice of his intention to appeal and e!)ni])hiin to tin; Synod ot ^"ew Jersey against this action of the i*resl)yter\ ." At this meeting of Presbytery, tin; session was granted permission lo supply their own puli)it till the next stated meeting of Presbytery. jVeeordingly we find tlie following action taken A\)V. L'(!. : Wherea-<^ Presbyteiy consented to supi>ly the ])iil[)il of this church until the next stated meeting, but it is now thought best to secure a pastor so soon as the congregation shall be satisiied, therefore Kesulved, That with the consent of the committee of conference we now proceed to hear candidates for the pastoiate." After hearing a limited number of candidates the following action was taken May 2o. 1879: Wherea-^j The session of this church having had a number of applica- tions from the membership of this church to elect a i)astor from the candidates heard, being satisiied that it is for the best interests of the c;hurcii that the election be proceeded with as soon as convenient, therefore RcMlced, That Thursday, June 5., this congregation will proceed to the above request. Tluough the difficulties in the church the people found themselves involved in indebtedness, and accordingly a meeting of the congrega tion was held, Apr. 17. 1879, The meeting convened in pursuance of the following notice, viz: "Apr. 6. 1879. There will be a meeting of the (;ongregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomsbury, N. J. in the basement of the church, on Thursday, the 17. day of April inst- ant, at two o'clock P. M., to take into consideration the financial condi- tion of the church, and to make disposition of money i^laced in their o- hirsl I'fcsliijkrkiii C/iiir'-/i. iif JJ//. liaiids: said tnustces owiuj;' to iHcseiit circumstaiices desiiv in.stiuctioiis t'roni t'le congTegatioii."* I'iu' triisti'os acc-ount Look was cxa-iniiuMl and the iiidebiediies.s oi" til!.' cluirch ascvnlaiiied, \vherci:!)on tlie lollinvii:!;' action was talcen : Where (d, By the hist will and testaaieiit o'.dohn P. iSniith, decM, the sum of one thousand d olLiivs wa.s bequeathed to the First Pi-esbyterian Chtii(;li of Bh)Oiiisbury, of which sum the interest only could be used the principal to remain in tact, uidess by a two thirds vote of said con- ^'regation said principal to be used it needed, therefore Re-iolccd 1st, Tha" the u'.-.i^ent needs of this cluuch require the use of tills money lo li(iu!se, namely, the c:iiiceiin,ii\siiid iisdebtedne'::; of tliis cluucli.'' At a cong'i'cg'atioual meetin^i;' lield on ,)une .">. ]S7:>, the people pro- ceeded to the election of a pastor. Tiie following were j)laced in nom- ination, viz: Kev. Joliu C. Clyde, Kev. II. B. Townseiid andKev. E. A. Hamilton. The election resulted in the choice of Kl> v. John C. Clyde. The call was made -out at a salary of eight hundred dollars a. year, l)a.yuble (piarterly, with free use of tlie parsonage, and a vacation of four Habbaths annually. A proposition w;is made that the electors sign the call, which failed. It was then proposed that three of the old- est members sign it, which was also lost. Finally it was onlered that the session and trustees should sign it. This reveals the distrust which existed among the i)eoi)le as to the future welfare of the church. Eev. Mr. Clyde in due time expressed his willingness t,o acce[)t the call, and commenced his labors among the people July 1. 1S71>. The woilc from the outset was a delicate, dfficult and discouraging one. T'iie churcli was distracted through the long continued and tierce dis- sensions wliicli ha.d existed in its midst. Tin? i>eople were therefore in no condition to go forward in the work of buihling u[) the church either spiritually or temporally. The whole community was allected by the tiuinoil in the chur(;h. There were many hard words sjjoken and hard- t-r lliou^ht.s entertained b\ those wlio were pr()ie,s8ecll,\ tlie lollowcrs c!' (he iDcek iind lowly Jesus. Many seemed lo assume th;it \hv luwiy elected ])a.stor was their enemy ;ind it (levolved upon them lo ticat him dis;es])ect{nlly and unkindly. Taken all in all tJie lieid w;!s in ithoiit ;;s unin"\'iting' a condition as it well could be. ^'orwirhstandiiii;' liiis it h;id to be assumed that here as elsewhere, the el was to be })re;'e!ied ; the Jinthority of the church sustained; and Clod's true children har- monized and led if possible, and to tlse accomplishment of this task the pastor aointEev Wm. Thomson to preside, preiich the sermon and propose the constitutional questions: Eev. Thonias S. Long to charge the pastor; and Eev. H. B. Townsend to charge the people. The delegate Avas also instructed to ask Presbytery to appoint Tuesday, Oct. 14. at 2 o'clock i'. m., as the time a^t which the installation should tidce place." At a meeting of Presbytery at Asbury, Oct 7. 1871>, the i)astor elect ''])re.'-ented a letter of dismission and recommendation from the Presby- tery ot Chester, with a request that he be received as a meml)er of this Presbytery. The certificate having been read was foimd to be in order, and Eev. Mr. Clyde was received according to his j-eqnest, and his name ordered to be i)laced upon the roll." The call having been presented to and accepted by the ])astor elect, Oct. 14., at 2 o'clock p. m., was fixed as the time of installation. Eev. Y\m. Thomson was appointed to ])reside, ])roi)ose the constitutional •> ! Fn-si Prc-<')ifl( i\(in (Jdirr'n of Ji/uuni^h"r'/. (]iU!st!()iis and ciiHige the piistor: Rev. John B. Ku};kn' to [ueacli the ."•eiiiio!! ; ;m(I Kev. H. B. Towiiseiul to charge the people. The iustalhi- IJMii s(M\'i('e.s were (hily hchl at tli." time appointed. At this same du'etiiii;' ot I'li'shytery, while etloits were beiiig' made to a(lvaii<;e the interests of the ciiureh, tiiere were some who were exertiiij^' themselves to eripi)le it. .Vs we hiive seen, notice had been jj;iven on tlie ]);irr of some of the conj^regation. of an intention to a])[>eal frojn a decision of the Presbytery ivlative to the difticulties in the ehurch. So at this meetinji' ''a i)aper was i)lactMl in the hands of tlie moderator wiiich vras I'ead and ioand to b.' a omplaint from a [>art of tlu' churcli of Blooms- bury, with the reasons therefor, to tJie Synod of New Jersey, against the action of the Presbytery at its meeting in Ai)ril last, whereupon IWv. A. A. Haines and llev. W. A. IloUiday were appointed counsel to defend the action of Presbytery before Synod." The case came up in Synod at its nieeting in Treiiton. oji Oct, -i2. 1870, and was tried in tlie usual tbrm. Kev. J)r. Kempshall and Kev. David StcNcuson acting as counsel ihv tlu' comi>laina.nts by ji])pointment of Synod. The iinal vote was talcen witii the following iivsuU, viz: "To contirm the action ot Presbytery 48; to contirm in ])art 4; to reverse the action of Presby- tery 4.1: to re\'erse iji })arfc G." Tiie inopointed a committee to bring in a minute setting forth the rea- sons for the decision rendered." This committee brought in a majority and minority report, tiie former of which was adopte re8])ecluil and dcliberato cousidciatioii. Also, that in iutuio tliey kccj) a iiiuic (^aivl'iil and paiticular record of their i)r(K'eedings. The Synod Avould also at the same time j'eecmnicnd lo tiie mcmherv ot iiic i-jiiircii at Eloomsbiiry to seek tiie thini^'s that m;ike for peace." This disposition of tlie case, it woidd seejn, (night lo iiaA'e been satis- factory to all parties interested, but such M;is not (lie ca-;e. In ihie time notice was given to tlic mo'Jeia^or of Synod of tiie intention of certain i)ersons to iipj)eal to the G;'neral Assembly from the decision of the Synod. The moderator of Synod wrote to the pastor of the church Avith a view of arriving at such solution of tlic diliiculties as would stop litigation. The })a.stor g-ave such advice and inforuuition as iu his judgnu'nt, would bf cadculated to bring about a. better understanding between the litigaiit-. Fortunately through tliis or some other means tlie case was pr*'vented from going before the General Assemblv, but atiairs remained in an unsettled condition until the absence of any compla.int before the Assembly in the ;s[>ring of 1S80 conliiined the ac- tion of Synod in its settlement of the ditticulties. Whilst many of those who u[)held the appeal and complaint to Synod against Presbytery accei)ted Synod's action its tina.l and continued to perform their christian duties in the church, others manifeste'd an un- willingness to submit to the authority of the church, and made an eftbrt to carry on religious services iu a public hall iu the village witliout con- sulting Presbytery and without taking certiiicates of dismission from the ciiurcli to which they belonged. This effort at continued resistance to the regnlarly constituted authorities of the clmrcli however, failed after a. few weeks. Xotwithstanding there were these great obstacles in the way of prog- ress, the policy of going straight forward Mith the affairs of the church was i)ersevered in. As we have seen Presbytery advised the ad()j)t)ou of means whereby the grounds of complaint with reference to certain elders might be removed, and this was also recommendetl by xhe Syn- od. Accordingly the following action was taken Xov. lo. 1879: ''The session having considered on the '61. of March last the proprie- ty of giving the cougregatiou an o[>portunity of expressing their views ■)'\ I'lr^i J'rishi//rrtait Chfrch ojUloo/n^bt'r^/. oil tlir ,siihj(H-t of elecriii^' additional elders, took up tbe saiiie sultjcet. a.i litis iiieeiin,c. Alloi- c >a.si(lcratio!i it was /i'n ;,',•-■ / l^■•^ Tiiat tilt' luodeiMtor by iustrucied to i;'ive notice on next 8 sbbat'ii in)riiin,i;, -Nov. Hi., that the conyreg'titioii would be con- vened in eon^^re^^vitioual meeting' on ^iabbath morning Xov. 2.]., alter service to give expression t() their views on the above subject. /t's-:^/.- ■./ I'd. Tliat if tlie congregation see lit to elect additional el- ders they shall be afforded tlien and there an o;)])ortunity to proceed lo said elcit^ioii if so disposed. The nrn-iing of t'le congreg ition here c;)ntemi.'la"('d was duly held Nov. L':'.. isri), at the close of divine service. The i)astor w;is elected caairm in of the meeting ami Wm. 8. CrcNcling, M. 1)., secretary. The c.iU a^ foriuulateu at the meeting of session Xov. 13. was read. ''A mo- tion Viiis made and seconded that additional elders be elected. After ;> full and free discussion of the subject, t!ie motion vras lost. The c >n- grega^ion luiving decided not to el"ct elders, and iio further business i»eing bel'ore the meeting, on motion it adjourned." At a meeting of session Jan. 1(1. 1880, "The oflicers of the congr<'ga- lioiial meeting icjcrrcd to in the minutes of tin' meeting oi' session, were requested to rcc<;id their minutes in the session bcok for i)erma- nent preservation and convenience of access iind reference." This re- bfjtxrian C/n/rc/i nf Blouin.^bcr^. 57 trustees. The same clay the board elected Jesise J. Lake, j (resident ; Joltn Hanee, seeretary; and 11. I. Smith, treasurer. K becoming man it'ested (by the'absence of an appeal to the Creneral Asseml>ly in 18S(;, on the pari; of those who were not satisfied with the decision of Synod in I87t)) that the litigation j;"rowin<>- out of the troubles in ilie chuith liad ceased, attention was turned to the correction of evils wliieli were found to exist in the ehuicli. One ot these evils was the old one of neglect of the ordinances : another was tlie retention upon the roll of the names of those who had removed beyond the bounds of the congre- gation or attended otiier churches, and who either neglected or refused to take certificates of dismission, whilst at the same time they were to a greater or less extent taking part in the control of t lie affairs of the cfiurch. To correct these evils, onSej). 11. 18orts which made the room so unattractive, have been replaced by suitable iron ones; the uucomlbrtable wooden benches have been replaced by chaiis; the pul- pit has been altered and the room generally renovated and relighted. A new sabbath-school library has been purchased and hymn books pro- vided wherebv the children sing the same hyujus that are used in the 58 I'^irs/ Prcshyler'aui Church of BlooiKsh'irij. rt'^nliiv cliurcli sei\ ice. J)iiriiij>' tlio year the invested eliaritable runds oi' i!ie conure.iiMtioi) liave been made available and used for tlie purpose U^v \vln<'!) they were provided." Tile aetioii of Se|». 11. ISS!), ha\ in;;' been (*i>innnniiea-ted to the eon- ,^ re .nation, and some of tiie delinquents not seeminji' to heed the admo- nition then given, tlie following' action was talven by session Ajtr. L'. 1881, viz: Whercd.i^ General Assembly (Digest page 024:. 'J.) ha.s tMiJoined ujjon s(\ssi<)ns of our cjuirciics, on th<' rtMuoval of any members beyoiid boun- daries of their own organization, to furnish sju'li mend)ers, whether in full conniuuiion or memlters b,\ l)a[>tism only, with testimonials of tlieir standing, which testiitnuiials it shall l)e the, duty of such i)ersons at once to picsent to sonu' church of our connection, and the session shall earnestly counsel these members to transfer their relation immey rhis means the I'oll was to some extent revised. Apr. 1881, the congregation elected Jesse J. Lake, John Ham\' ami Kobert I. Smitli, trustees. The same day the truste('s eUn'^ed .Jesse J. Lake, president: John Ilance, secretary; and liobert L Smitli, treasu- ler. Having on Ai)ril 1'. dealt with the delincpients who resided bey(uid ihe bounds of the congregation, session ])roceeded to consider the case of tiiose wlio resi(l(Ml within boumls. Accordingly May 28. 1881, "Sess- i<»n convened in accordance with Chai). IX, sec. 7. Form of Gov't, at the reijuest of two elders." ''The subject of the absence from the ordi- nances of tiu' church on the part of certain members was taken up and action of Assembly (Digest Book II, Ch. I. IL*, a.) bearing upon the l)oints, was n^ad. It was decided to proceed in the })reseut case under this provision. The following charge, upon common fame, was formu- lated, viz: Unchristian con/ Blduiu.'^hiirji. '.][) sons wore hold. At'tor ttxiiii;' Juno U, as tlio time ot next mooting': and entering- the names of the witnesses who weie to jnove tlie cliaiiiv, t!u> elerk was dirooted to cite the }>aitios to ajtpear at tha* linu', and au ei- der was apijointi'd to eon(Uiot the inosecntion. Jt^\.ls (ieoifh-d to sir in [)riva.te, in acexnthtnee with act of Astojully, i8,S(,*, minntos ]3age l;o. -Juno li. 1881, session eonvenod liursuaut to adjoununout, at l?,oO o' olook A. 31. Tlie ohU'r who was appointed to have eliargo oftlu^ [uose- oution not being present anotlier was a])pointed in Ins i)Uice. Bei'oro proceeding to judicial session, lor reasons satislkctory to session, the charge was withdrawn with reierenoe to three of the persons lield, leaving twenty persons under process. Having proceeded to judicial session the names of the accused wore called for the purpose of pre- senting them with a copy of the charge and nauses of tlie witnesses. One only ajjpeared who pleaded guilty, expressed [(onitence and vfas admonished. The dork was dii'octed to issue citations for the witness- es, and those who had failed to appear at this mooting, to appear at a meeting to be held June 14., for triid. Session accordingly convened June 14. 1881, at 8 o'clock A. M. Upon calling the names of the accus- ed only one appeared. Tlie charge having been i)resented he pleaded guilty and retired whilst session considered what a.ction should be ta- ken in the case. When recalled he failed to appear and was accord- ingly suspended from the communion of the church, in accordance with act of Assembly, Digest page 493, a. The remaining eighteen accused persons not appearing, ''the clerk was ordered to cite these, with the witnesses, to api)ear at the next meeting for trial," whereupon session adjourned to meet June 18. 1881. The names of the eighteen remain- ing accused persons were calied, none of whom appeared; thus sus pending themselves from the communion of the church without the ac- tion of session, by operation of the law of the church provided in such cases. ''Session thereupon declared that these persons were excluded from the communi(m of the church for their contumacy uniil they re- pent, in accordance with Book of Discii)Iine, Chap. 4. se(; 10. ' An elder Avas appointed to have charge of the cases and session pro- ceeded to place on record the proof of the charge preferred. -'In accor- ♦jO J'lr^f i*n s'uijkr'iaii Ctmrcl' of H/ouiiisht/r'/. (laiKc witli J^ook of DLsci[)line (Jluip. 4, sec. 11), it was deemed expedi- eiil not to piihir.sh the netioii of session l>evond the Judiciitorv.'' Ciider diite of June L'T. 1.S81, six of the persons v.iio liad been sus- pended fioni the e<)inniunit)n of the church pive uotice of their inten- tion to ap]»eal and e<>inj)lain to Tresbytery, but never carried the mat- ter furtlier. Tims for tlie time beiny-, at least, ended the troubk\s in the eliureli. ^Vt tius tin)e the e()n^re<4ati')n was called upon to under<>'o a sad be- icavement. Klder William Tinsman, who had served the church from its organiza'ion.aiid who was ;i zealous i)articipa.nt in taking- the ini- tiatory steps in the cases of discipline which lie, witli the other mem- bers of session felt were needed for the welfare of the church, was stricken of ap()[)lexy atid died June 4. Th;' foll;)\viiig' re;) ) '^ of si'.ssion t> Presbytery was made Mar. 1*5. 1882. Tiie ordinances have been maintained uninteruptedly throughout the year, and the fruit; thereof exhibited in the reception of a. number of new converts int > the memb.Tship ot (he church, aiul the manifest- ly increased earnestness in the hearing of the preached word by the entire c )ngregatio:i. The revision of the roll aud the c;)nse(iuently correded table of tigiire-! elucidates more clearly the actual strength of the church, ami althougli the number of communicants re[)orted is less than it wa; in last year's report, the moral and si>iritual power of tlie chinch is mucli stronger. The fa(;t that the congregation has been steadily increasing tliiough the adlierence of persons moving into the community, and througii the increased interest of some resiiovement in the atteudance, perhaps more especially prominent sine;' the series ot services during tiie Presbyterial visitation. The in- terest ajtparent on that occasion has not subsided and we have mani- fest (^vi(h'iic(^ that the Holy Si)irit is in our midst. The standard of pi- ety is higiier among tiie memb.3rs of the churcli. The attachment to the i»astor and to each o;:her is a prominent feature, and all things con- sidered the church has much reason tor thankfulness." Ai)r. S. 1882, the congregation elected Charles Ali)augh, J. J. Lake lur.^f I*n.'//crii(it Lhurch of Bloomshnhi. (ii )o and L. Aiidertioii, trustees. At this meeting' it was oideied Ihal Imriid plots be sold to any jiersons outside oftliis eoii.uTcgalii ii."" A\)v. !>. Kobeit 1. Smitli aud Joliii Ilauce were ekcted trustees to t;!ke in*' places of J. J. Lake and L. Anderson who deelined to serve. The saiiie day the trustees eloctetibly increased, and their earnest attention and deep interest are quite apparent. 3. The admission of a number of new converts into the communion and christian fellowshi]) of the church, contirms the belief that the ^Spirit is in our midst, and strength- ens the hope that God will yet bless his means toward an abuiuhint conversion of souls. 4. Notwithstanding there have been removals by death and dismissals to other churches, the reception of members upon confession of Christ and by letter, render an increased total of commu- nicants. 5. The moral and spiritual power of the church is steadily growing stronger. Than in the past brotherly love and christian char- ity have become a marked feature. Perhaps during the entire history of the church there has never been such close accord with the people and their pastor. G. The congregation is growing numerically stronger 62 Fti-st J^ics()'/I< raui Ckarrli of Blouiii^biin/. because of adherence of t'aniilies moving' into the vilhige, and the more cordial snp})ort of eailier n^sidiMits, 7. Althongli not ]>ossessed of snch ample mcan>^ as in former vears, the cliurch is growing in financial streni;th. Tliere is no indehtiHlness; bnt on the contrary there is a considerable fund set a])art for incidental i)nrposes; besides a fund tor the relief of the poor of the church. , All things considered, the session are enconraged to ho[)e for a bright future for the (^hnrch. Such was substantially the conditi«)n of the church July 1. 1883, the dose of the tirst four years of the pastorate of liev. John C. Clyde. Uj> to this time there had been received into the church thirty-four per- sons, fifteen upon profession of their faith in Christ; and nineteen by certificate. Nineteen infants had been bai)tized, and eight couples married. F'irai J'rcdtijferidn CJiunit uf Bluonicbury. Qo 8UBSC1MBERS FOR THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BLOOMSBURY, NEW JERSEY. Naiiies. Copies. Heury R. Kennedy i... William J. Smith 2. Moses Robins "^ 2. Robert I. Smith 3. John C. Smith 2. Louis Anderson 1. William S. Creveling, M. D. 1. David Wean 1. Franklin P. Cline ■ 1. James J. Willever 1. S. R. Dalrymple 1. A. W. Creveling "5 1. Thomas S. Hoft'man 1. John Hanee 1. WilUam C. Smith '\ 1. Theodore Melick 1. William Fulmer 1. M. J. Vliet 1. Elizabeth Smith ^ : 1. J. G. Apgar 1. Wm. Carlinii- '. 1. {ji l^ird Prtshijkrian Clmrrh of Blount ■■ !• C. H. Smith ,.^ . _., 1, S. E. G. Smith . ._ 1. W. G. Smith '"' \,^^ .^J _. 1- Wm. Little, M. I). ._^ .,.^,_:"' "" 1. A. G. Orcveliiig "■ -■ . ^^ 1. Heury :\I. Vliet ._....,=, %I ^. :. 1- George Vhet . .^ . .. ^' Eliza vhet ' .. ::;;::z:,. i- Alice V. Vliet 1. liachel Tiiisjiiau . . LI.™ ^* Lizzie Emery , _ L James II. Willever _ ^ -^ llanuah A. Creveliiiy- 1. Agues Creveliug 1. Charles O. Creveliiii;- 1. James L. Creveliiig' L G. M. Williamson !• Mr, Brotzmau 1- J. W. Dellart 1. V. K. Wolvertou 1. Miiry V. Smith 1. Sarah C. Smith 1. Ellie Smith !• Mary P. Young 1. Wm. l)alrymi)le !• P. L. Hawk 1. George Hawk 1. Mr. Buhner !• James Mvers 1. First Fresbyterian Church of Bloomsbury. 65 John Sidder8 1. Samuel Hansou 1. J. C. Stewart, M. D. 1. A. Creveling' 1. G. Cole 1. Wni. Slierrer 1. George Oreaiuer 1. John W. Crev^eling 1, S. N. Park 1. John Wiedei- 1. George Carpenter 1. George Streepy 1. John L. Allen 1, George Opdyke . 1- S. Probasco 1. Henry Gardner I. Isaac Wolverton 1. George Race 1. Lewis Fox 1. Othor [•iihliciitioiis Uy Kev. Joliii C. Cl,y(le< Ilistoi'.\ <>r tilt' Alh'ii Tow iislu[i Piesbyteriiiu (Jlmivh aiul ibe Coiii- iniinity wliich has sustained it, in what was tbnnerl.v known as the Irisli Settl'Muent, Xorthanipton Connty, Pa. 1S70, p[>' '^^^- ^^c* G(MiHal()^ios, Xecroloft.N and Keininiscences of the Irish Settlement, or a Itocord of those Scotch-Irish Presbyterian families who were the First Settlers in the "Forks of Delaware," now Xortluimj^ton County, Penn- sylvania. — 'i Se(]uel to the "History of the Allen Township Presbyte- rian Church. 1S7<», ]>\). 4LM>. $1.00. Rosbru;;h, a Tale of the Revolution, or Life, Labors and Death of I*ev. ,Iohn Kosbru,u]i, i>astor of Greenwich, Oxford and Mansfield VV'oodhonse (Washington) Presbyterian churches, N. J., from 17(54 to 17(50; and of Allen Township chnreli, Pa., from 17(50 to 1777; Chai)lain in the Continental Army; (Herical Martyr of the Revolution, killed by Hessians, in the battle of Assunpink, at Trenton, New Jersey, Jan. 2d, 1777- Founded ui>on a i)a])er read before the New Jersey Historical Society at its meeting? in Trenton, Jan. 15th, 1880; to which is append- ed genealoj>ical data of all the Rosbrughs of the connection in America. 1880. ])}>. 04. 81.00. Life of James H, Coftin, LL.l)., for twenty-seven years Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in Lafayette College; Member of the National Academy of Sciences, and other learned bodies; Discoverer of the laws which govern the Winds of the Globe. 1881, p]). 375. il.50. UCE 17(»T I 1 1