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CHURCH.
CENTENNIAL HISTORY

OF

RAHWAY METHODISM

RAHWAY, N.J.

BY

REV. HF. GC. MOONneY.

New York.
RICHMOND PUBLISHING CO.

1898.
AUTHOR’S NOTE.

 

When this work was begun it was pro-
posed to preface the history of Methodism
in Rahway with a brief account of the
origin and early history of Methodism,
especially the work of Mr. Wesley and
Bishop Asbury. When, however, it was
decided to reduce the price to twenty-five
cents it was found necessary to curtail
the cost by omitting the preface, but it was
too late then to change the paging as the
first chapters had already been printed,
FIRST MM. £. CHURCH.

1798 - 1898.
CHAPTER III.

 

ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY—THE BUILD-
ING OF THE CHAPEL.

Tue late J. Scott Terrill, in his manu-
script notes on the history of the first
Methodist Episcopal church of Rahway,
traces the introduction of Methodism as
far back as 1774, when the Rev. William
Watters was on the New Jersey Circuit,
and, so far as the records show, the only
conference preacher in the state. This
was less than three years after Francis
Asbury landed in America, less than six
years after the dedication of the old John
street church, the first Methodist house of
worship built in Ameria and while New
44 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Jersey was one of the English colonyies.

These services were held at the houses
of the different converts to Methodism
and were conducted by the circuit riders,
as the conference ministers were then
called, as often as they could visit their
widely. scattered flocks, and at other
times by local preachers, and class lead-
ers.

The meetings were sometimes held at
the house of Mr. Amos Terrill, grandfa-
ther of the late J. Seott Terrill, who
lived on what was then called the King’s
Highway, but now St. George avenue,
sometimes at Daniel Terrill’s, at Jonathan
Oliver’s near the salt meadows, or at John
Morris’ in Bricktown.

During the summers the services were
often held out of doors. Mr. J. Scott Ter-
rill says he well remembers to have seen
the large tree on Mr. Morris’ lawn, under
whose protecting shade the early Method-
ists of Rahway used to hold their services.
THE FIRST M. E, CHURCH. a)

Notwithstanding the difficulties under
which the society labored it continued to
increase in strength and numbers, and in
1798 or some time prior to that date had
organized and elected a board of trustees-
In October of that year the trustees pur-
chased from William Shotwell, for fifty
dollars, a lot on which it was proposed to
erect u house of worship.

This deed conveyed from William Shot-
well to Jonathan Oliver and Benjamin
Woodruff, of Essex County, and William
Flatt, Jr., Abraham Storms and John
Marsh, of Middlesex County, trustees, ‘‘ in
trust for the uses and purposes hereinafter
mentioned: <A plot of land on the road
leading from John Tucker’s to Shotwell’s
Landing.”

We have no record of the meeting at
which these trustees were elected, It
does not appeur that any record book of
the proceedings of the trustees or of the
business meetings of the society was kept:
46 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

until the pastorate of the Rev. Wilham
Granville, in 1832, as Mr. Granville pre-
faces the book of records with the follow-
ing note: 7

‘Rahway, June 18th, 1832.”

‘** Avreeable to a vote of the trustees of
the M. E. church in Rahway, I have col-
lected their different papers, and, as far
as possible, arranged them according to
their different dates in the best manner
within my power.”

The first entry in the records is a copy
of the above mentioned deed from Mr.
Shotwell.

This lot, however, was never built upon,
and in 1808 Dr. Moses Jacques having of-
fered to donate a site considered more
favorable (that on which the church now
stands), the trustees decided to surrender
the Shotwell lot, which had not been paid
for, to the grantor.

On June 5th, 1804, Francis Asbury, the
first Methodist Bishop of America visited
Rahway, stopping over night with Mr.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 47

Flatt, but we have no records of any meet-
ings he held here. He probably preached
at Mr. Flatt’s house.

The first real effort toward the erection
of a suitable place of worship was begun
in 1806. Ata meeting held Nov. 26th, of
that year, to solicit aid in building the first
M. E. church in Rahway, the following
resolution was passed:

‘‘ Whereas the members of the M. E.
Church, and others who wish to attend
the ministry of said church, that live in
Rahway and its vicinity, are desirous of
erecting a piace of worship, a plain build-
ing about forty feet square for the public
worship of Almighty God, and to pro-
mote the practice of piety and virtue, but
on estimation of the expenses they find
themselves inadequate to the completion
thereof without the aid of their fellow
citizens, they therefore hereby solicit the
support of the pious, the charitable and
the benevolent of every denomination to
48 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

enable them to carry into effect their pur-
posed design. The smallest sums will be
gratefully acknowledged and thankfully
received. They are encouraged to hope
for success as one person (not of their
community), has generously offered to do-
nate to them a lot of suitable size for the
purpose, between upper Rahway and
Bridge Town on which they propose to
erect the building. William Flatt, Aaron
Miller and Enoch Moore are appointed
managers of the proposed building.

‘* We the subscribers being desirous of
encouraging the above laudable design do
hereby promise to pay the above named
William Flatt, Aaron Miller and Enoch
Moore for the purposes foresaid the sev-
eral sums affixed to our names as soon as
one thousand dollars are subscribed for
the purposes aforesaid.”

The list of subscribers was kept on sep-
arate papers, probably one copy for each
of the building committee, or ‘‘ managers,”’
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 49

and although the following list contains all
those we have been able to find, it may
possibly not be a complete list.

Thomas Morrell, $40.00.
Aaron Miller, $40.00.
Jonathan Oliver, $40.00.
Samuel Moore, $10.00.
James Lorie, $5.00.

James Dougherty, $1.00.
William Farnote, $4.00.
Eliakim Ludlow, $2.00.
Asa Arnold, $8.00.

Simon Lott, $1.00.

William Wainwright, $3.00.
Elizabeth Widagan, $2.00.
Name Unknown, $5.00.
William Clark, $3.00.

John Morris, $5.00.

Classon Martin, $2.00.

John Johnson, $3.00.

John Cheddick, $10.00. .
Stephen Winans, $5.00.
Isaac Wyman in work, $5.00.
Samuel Winans, 8 loads of stone.
Joseph Oliver, Jr., $10.00,
Enoch Moore, $39.00.
50 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Enoch Moore & Co., $5.00.
William Flatt, Jr., $50.00.
John Flatt, $20.00.

John Wilson, $3.00.

John P. Thorp, $1.00.
Palatiah Whitehead, $1.00.
James Thorp, Jr., $1.00.
William Moore, $1.00.
Freeman Worth, $1.50.
John Bergun, $$1.00.
George Harrison, $5.00.
William Martin, $1.00.
John Williams, $1.00.

John O. Jaques, $20.00.
John Jaques, $3.00.

. Joseph Croswell, $1.00.
Clarkson Noe, $1.C0.

John Crowell, work, $2.00.
Jonathan Randolph, $1.00.
Phillip Brown, Jr., $3.00.
Thomas Morris, $1.09.
Nathan Bunn, $5.00.
Robert Morris, $3.00.
Samuel Jaques, $5.00.
William Martin, work, $5.00.
Nathaniel Bennett, $1.00.
Cowperth waite Moore, $1.00.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 51

John Barron, $5.00.

John Brokaw, $2.00.

David Jaques, $5.00.

Aaron Brokaw, $2.00.
Cornelius Brokaw, $5.00.
Abel Clarkson, $2.00.
James H. Marsh, $2.00.

Ira Weeks, $2.00.

James Jaques, $1,00.

John Spinning, $15.00.
George Marsh, $2.00.
Freeman Force, $2.00.
James Edgar, work, $2.00.
Ephraim Harriett, work, $5.00.
Nathan Harned, $5.00.
Mary Cook, $5.00.
Benjamin Drake, $4.00.
Edward Mundy, $3.00.
Robert Luke, work, $2.50.
Barron Mundy, work, $6.00.
Joseph Nesbitt, $1.25.
James Milven, work, $2.00.
Henry Mundy, work, $8.00.
Thomas Crowell, $4.00.
Thomas Crowell, $6.00.
Samuel Kinsey, work, $2.00.
N. Morse, $5.00.
52 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Henry Force, $3.00.
Samuel Anderson, $1.00.
Samuel Gilman, $2.00.
William Oliver, $10.00.
Jack Ryno, 2 days work.
Robert Marsh, $4.0).
John Compton, $1.00.
Joseph Stansbury, $20.00.
Mary H. Winants, $5.00.
Samuel Freeman, $2.00.
John C. Marsh, $5.00.
Abraham Flatt, $15.90.
Tra Mundy, $2.50.
William Ross, $2.00.
Thomas Terrell, $1.00.
Isaac Winants, in stone.
Isaac Stansbury $5.0).
John Marsh, $10.00.
William Laurence, work.
Robert Clarkson, Jr., $2.00.
James Lambert, $5.00.
Sarah Hetsel, $1.00.

Samuel Force, $3.00.
Cornelius Baker, $3.00.
Peter Craig, $1.00.
Thomas Brown, $1.00.
Jane Freeman, $10.00.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 53

Elihu Marsh, $5.00.
John Wainwright, $5.09.
Nathan Harned, $5.00.
Charles T. Tucker, $10.00.
Merritt Martin, timber.
James De Camp, stone.
John Ludlow, stone.
Gideon De Camp, $25.00.
Frederick Mundy, $5.00.
James Clarksom, $2.00.
Elias Dunning, $1.00.
James Moore, $5.00.
Samuel Winants, $8.00.
James Brown, $2.00.
Gershom Cheddick, $1:'.00.
Alstain Bishop, $2.00).
Daniel Pierson, $4.00.
Sophia Harnad, $2.00.
Phebe Freeman, $6.00.
Rebecca Edgar, $2.00.
Jane Freeman, $10.00.
Thomas Edzar, $1.00.
John Mecan, $1.50.
Sophia Harned, $2.09.
Gideon De Cump, $10.00.
[saac Freeman, $3.00.
Abel Jackson, $1.00.
54 METHODISM IN RAHWAY;

Edward Mundy, $3.00.
Compton Cutts, $5.00.
Cornelius Baker, $3.00.
Thomas L. Brown, $1.00.
Alexander Richards, $2.00.
Sarah Hatfield, $1.00.
Stephen Winants, $2.00.
Rev. Thomas Morrill, $5.00.
Beside the above subscriptions about
$25.00 were collected in cash, no names

given,
It may seem in this age of church build-

ing that our ancestors were a long time in
gaining sufficient membership and strength
to build a plain cheap housé of worship,
but we must remember that during this
period the country went through its long
and arduous struggle for liberty, and that
New Jersey was one of the states which
suffered most, and was not able even to
provide for the comfort of her soldiers;
and that after the war there was a long
period of depression before the country
could recover from the ravages of the war,
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. DD

and that the finances of the whole country
were in a deplorable condition, money
scarce and all industries at a low ebb.

Moreover there were few ministers of
the Methodist denomination. Services,
even as late as 1808, were held in Rihway
but twice a month and the circuit of each
minister was so large that it was impossi-
ble for him to hold revival meetings, such
as in later years have done so much to in-
crease the membership of the di lerent
churches.

Rahway was at this time but a small
village and from Church street to the river
was open lots, except two or three houses
on the south side of Grand street.

Taking all these facts into consideration
we can but admire the steadfast faith, the
perseverance and devotion of these early
desciples of Methodism, who for over thirty
years struggled against adverse circum-
stances, and maintained their services and
organization, The small sums subscribed
56 METHODISM IN BAHWAY,

by each probably represented more or
sacrifice and self denial to the subscribers
than ten times that amount would repre-
sent at the present time.

In the Spring of 1808, Dr. Moses Jaques,
Jr., gave the trustees a deed of the lot on
which the church now stands. To acopy
of this deed Mr. Terrill appends the fol-
lowing marginal note:

“This is the first deed from Moses
Jaques, but not signed by his wife for it
was thought they would not be able to
raise the one thousand dollars to build
the church, and if not, the lot would not
be given them.”

A new deed for the same premises was
made April 9th, 1810. This deed was
signed by Dr. Moses Jaques, Jr. and his
wife, Susannah, and, for the nominal sum
of two dollars, it conveyed to ‘* William
Flatt, Abraham Flatt, Jonathan Oliver,
Aaron Miller, Anthony Oliver, John Ter-
fill, Peter Britt and their successors, trus-
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 57

tees in trust for the uses and purposes
hereinafter mentioned and declared, * * * *
A certain lot and piece of ground lying
-and being in the town of Rahway afore-
said, adjoining the sonthwesterly side of
the new road (so called) **** The trust
above referred to is created in the follow-
ing terms of the deed.

‘*To have and to hold the said lot of
land in trust for the use of the members
of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the
Township of Rahway aforesaid, or of any
of the adjacent places, who may from time
to time chose to attend there for the pur-
poses of religious worship. It is further
provided by these presents that the above
named trustees, William Flatt, Abraham
Flatt, Jonathan Oliver, Aaron Miller, An-
thony Oliver, John Terrill and Peter Britt
and their successors in office, as_ trustees,
forever, shall at all times, forever here-
after permit such ministers and preachers,
belonging to the said Methodist Episcopal
58 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

church as shall from time to time be duly
authorized by. the superintendents and
conferences of the said church to preach
and expound God’s Holy word, and ovher:
religious duties, agreeable to the discipline
of the said church, lately erected on the
aforesaid lot of land without any let hin-
derance or molestation from the said
trustees or their successors in office for-
ever; and in further trust and confidence
that as often as any one, or more of the
trustees hereinbefore mentioned shall die
or cease to be a member or members of
the said Methodist Episcopal church by
resignation or expulsion from the said
church, agreeably to the discipline of the
said church then and in such ease it shall
be the duty of the stationed preacher
who has the charge of the members of
said church to call a meeting of the re-
maining trustees as soon as conveniently
may be, and by a majority of the votes of
such remaining trustees to fill up such
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 59

vacancy or vacancies by and with the con-
sent of the said stated preacher or muin-
ister, which mode of filling up the vacan-
cies that may happen in the said board of
trustees shall be observed from time to
time when any vacancies may render it
necessary, and such trustee or trustees
(being a member, or members of the said
church), so chosen as aforesaid shall in
connection with the other trustees (the
whole number not to exceed seven), have
and hold the said lot of land and the
preaching house or church erected there-
on, solely for the before mentioned pur-
poses forever.”

This deed was received in the clerk’s
office, 29th August, A. D. 1810, and re-
corded in book R, of deeds for Essex Co.,
pages 305, 306, 307.

Siuas Conpirt, Clerk.

We are unable to give the exact date
of the erection of this first Methodist
church in Rahway, but it was probably
60 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

accomplished in the Summer of 1809, or at
least between the date of the deed signed
by Dr. Moses Jaques and that signed by
both himself and wife, as the latter deed
speaks of the church having been erected
on the lot.

The first meeting of the members for
the purpose of electing trustees which ap-
pears in the minutes, was called by the
following notice:

** Notice is hereby given that the mem-
bers of the Methodist society in the town-
ship of Rahway will meet at the Metho-
dist chapel on Wednesday, the 25th day
of February, 1810, at 2 o’clock in the
afternoon for the purpose of electing trus-
tees for the Methodist chapel agreeable
to a law of this state incorporating a re-
ligious society.

Rahway, Feb. 17th, 1810.

Wm. Fuatt.”

At this meeting William Flatt, Jr.,

Jonathan Oliver, ‘Abraham Flatt, Aaron
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 61

Miller, Anthony Oliver, John Terrill and
Peter Britt were elected trustees, but the
record does not say for how long a term.
A certificate of incorporation was made
out but was not executed.

On Wednesday, May 9th, 1810, Bishop
Asbury again visited Rahway. In his
journal he says: ‘‘Wednesday spoke in
the new chapel at Rahway. Lord What
amI? Save me from fainting under my
burden! As we came out Thursday a
man overtook us, halted G. P. to tell he
ought to have preached against the
iniquity of taking twelve per cent. interest
on loans.”

But although services were held in the
new chapel it was by no means finished.
The walls were unplastered, only the
doors and windows were painted, for seats
they had plain board benches, such as
were used at camp-meetings, and the
chapel was lighted in the evening only by
tallow candles in tin candlesticks. In-
62 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

’ stead of the elevated pulpit which was
deemed indispensible in those days, they
had a small elevated platform, and the
people in the broad galleries which sur-
rounded three sides of the building could
neither see the preacher nor be seen by
him.

The following resolution passed by the
trustees July 10, 1882 shows that an effort
was made at that time to finish the church:

‘* Whereas Joseph Stanbury is finishing
a Methodist Episcopal church at Rahway,
we, the undernamed trustees of said

church do invest him with full right and
power to collect the within named sub-

scription moneys, as witnesseth our hands
this tenth day of July, 1812.

Wm. Fuatt,
Peter Britt, Trustees,
AARON MILLER,

The subscriptions turned over to Mr.
Stansbury were unpaid subscriptions for
building the church and amounted to
$127.75, but thereis nothing in the records
THE FIRSE M. E. CHURCH. 63

to show how much of this was collected or
what work was done at the time.

A new subscription was started in 1812
with the following preamble dated Au-
gust 27:

“Whereas the Methodist Episcopal
church in the township of Rahway is in
such an unfinished state as to render it
both uncomfortable and inconvenient to
attend religious worship therein, the trus-
tees to remedy the inconvenience and to
make it more comfortable for those who
wish to attend, have begun to finish the
house, but, finding their funds inadequate
to complete it are under the necessity of
asking help and assistance for the com-
pletion of the work, they there earnestly
solicit the charitable assistance of every
denomination. Every donation will be

faithfully applied and thankfully received
To this they received subscriptions

amounting to $112.50 but this was not
enough to finish the church.
64 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

William Flatt, of the building committee
rendered a statement of the cost of the
church in February, 1813, showing the
amount expended up to that time to have
been $643.03.

In 1814 another attempt was made to
raise money to finish the church and
$93.75 was subscribed but it was not till
two years later that the edifice was fin-
ished.

In 1816 the trustees borrowed $50 to
purchase the material and on November
30th of that year appointed Thomas Potts
and Anthony Oliver a committee to em-
ploy carpenters to finish the church, and
each trustee was authorized to solicit
subscriptions to pay the cost.

This effort seemed likely to prove a fail-
ure as did that of 1812 when Mrs. Susan
Stansbury, a widow of some means, and
for many years a faithful member of
the church, offered to build the pulpit if
the others would contribute the money to
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 65

finish and seat the charch. Mrs. Stans-
bury’s offer was gladly accepted and in
1816 the church was completed and dedi-
cated.

The dedication services were conducted
by the Rev. Marvin Richardson and Rev.
Samuel Murwin, both of New York, and
was an occasion of great rejoicing among
the members and congregation, who were
delighted to sit in comfortable pews and
listen to the eloquent and earnest words
of these distinguished preachers, after
worshiping over forty years in houses,
barns and under trees, and six years in
their unfinished church sitting on plain
board seats.

In the minutes of the trustees meeting
held July 29, 1816, we find the first men-
tion of this church under the name of
Liberty chapel and the name frequently
appears in the minutes thereafter.

It was not until 1817 that the society
was finally and legally incorporated as
66 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

will be seen from the copy of the certificate
which we give below:

‘This is to certify that Thomas Foster,
Thomas Potts, Milan Ross, Peter Morgan,
Bennett Bowman, Charles Jaques and John
Decker have been duly elected trustees
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
township of Rahway, County of Essex,
and State of New Jersey, agreeably to an
act of the Legislature of said state passed
on the 13th day of June, 1799, to incorpor-
ate religious societies, and whereas said
trustees have taken and subscribed the
oaths required by law with view to become
an incorporate body under the name and
title as above written, to be known and
designated in law as such.

“‘Given under our hands and seals this
27th day of February, in the year of our
Lord 1817.

“*THomas Foster. [Le Ss]
““THomAS Potts. [L. s.]
“*MiLan Ross. [824
‘*PeTER MoRGAN. [L. 8.]
“BENNETT BowMAN. [L. 8.]
‘* CHARLES JAQUES. [L. s.]

‘‘JoHN DECKER. [u. 8.]
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 67

“* Received in the office the 7th day of
March, 1817, Book A of Miscellanies for

Essex County, page 114,
‘*Siras WHITEHEAD, Clerk.”

The Camp-meetings held at Rahway
Neck, in 1818 and 1819, were great events
for the Methodists in this vicinity, and
added considerably to the membership of
the First church. At that time all of
New Jersey and Staten Island were in one
district and people came in carriages and
farm wagons from all parts of the state
bringing their families and their tents,
prepared to remain throughout the entire
session. Many who were converted at
these meetings joined the churches in
their respective localities and proved use-
ful and faithful members all their lives.
Many of the early members of the first M.
E. Church in Rahway owe their conver-
sion to these camp-meetings.

In 121, the trustees purchased from
Elias Stansbury asmall plot of ground on
the westerly side of the church for $16.87.
68 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

This was a gore 65 feet deep, 35 feet wide
at one end and 12 feet at the other.

A burying ground was located in the
rear of the church goon after the purchase
of this plot.

It was not until 1826 that Rahway was
made a Station. The Rev. Thomas B.
Sargent was the first pastor and the Rev.
Manning Force was presiding elder of the
district. Below we give a list of the pas-
tors who served the different circuits to
which Rahway was attached from 1774 to
1826, when it became a separate charge.
1774— William Watters.
1775—John King, Daniel Ruff.
1776—John Cooper, Rcbert Lindsay.

1777—Henry Kennaday, Thos. McClure,
Daniel Ruff.

1778—Philip Cox, Joshua Dudley, Daniel
Ruff.

1779—Wm. Guill, John James, Richard
Garretson.

1780—Caleb B. Pedicord, Joseph Crom-
well.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 69

1781—James O. Cromwell.

1782—John Tunnell.

1783—Joseph Everett.

1784—Samuel Dudley, Wm. Phoebus,
John Hagerty, Matthew Greentree.

1785—Adam Cloud, Matthew Greentree.

1786—John McClaskey, Eziekiel Cooper:
Robert Cloud.

1787—Robert Cloud, Thos. Morrell. This

circuit embraced Elizabeth, Rahway ,

Newark Belleville, Turkey (now New
Providence), and New Brunswick.

1788—John McClaskey.

1789—John Merrick, Jonathan Cooper.

1790—Jethro Johnson, Gamaliel Baley.

1791—Gamaliel Baley, Joseph Lovell.

1792—John Clark, Joseph Totten.

1793—John Ragum, Mensjas Rainor.

1794—William Pheobus, D Kendell.

1795—Thos. Bostwick, R. Hutchinson,
William Storm.

1796—John Fountain, Albert Van Nos-
trand.
70 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

1797—J. Clark, T. Merritt, J. Steward.

1798—James Tallison, Samuel Thomas,
Thomas Morrell.

1799—Thos. Everard, David Bartine. Dur-
ing David Bartine’s itinerary meetings
were held at the house of John Morris
in Bricktown near where the little
creek crosses the road at the left of
Grand street. John Morris was father-
in-law of Aaron Miller, one of the first
trustees of the church.

1800—Joseph Totten,. Jesse Justice.

1801—Joseph Totten, William Mills,

1802—Joseph Totten, William Mills, Sam-
uel Thomas, Geo. Woolley, J. Ste-
phens.

1803—Samuel Thomas.

1804—Thomas Morrell, Benjamin Thiff,
Samuel Bull.

1895—Peter Van Nest, David Bartine.

1806—William McEenahan, David Bartine.

1807—James Moore, Jacob Hevenor.

1808—James Moore, Thomas Stratton.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 71

These are the men who were the first
to commence the building of the First
M. E. church in Rahway in 1808.
1809—William Smith, Thomas Stratton,
John Sharpley.
1810—John Potts, James Moore.
18t1—John L. Hall, Thomas Morrell.
1812—Thomas Neal, George Bonghart.
1813—Stephen Martindale, John Finley.
1814—John Robertson, John Finley.
18)5—John Finley.
1&16—Joseph Totten, John Potts, Daniel
Moore.
1817—George Woolley, Edward Page.
1818—George Woolley, R. W. Pether-
bridge.
1819—Asa Smyth, Bartholemew Weed.
1820—Asa Smyth, James Long.
1821-2—-Thomas Neal, Samuel S. Ken-
nard. Mr. Kennard, who preached in
the old church for two years on circuit
stopped at the house of Mr. Whitehall
Bull, who resided in Lower Rahway
12 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

or Liesville (Died 1860), while Kennard
was on this circuit. Mr. Bull builtan
additional room to his house, which
he dedicated as the “‘ prophet’s room,”
and was kept for that purpose, fur-
nished with bedstead, chairs, Bible
and other books for preachers’ use
until we became a station under Tho-

mas B. Sargent.
1823—E. Jersey comprised Staten Island

and Essex circuit including Elizabeth-
town, Rahway, Newark, New Provi-
dence and Belleville. Larry Mce-
Combs, Isaac Winner, James Polhe-

mus.
1824—Staten Island and Essex circuit.

David Best, William A. Wiggins, J,
Polhemus. In 1824 Elizabethtown
became a station, Robert Lutton
preacher in charge, also Newark, Will-
iam Thatcher, preacher in charge.

1825—David Best, William A. Wiggins.
1826-7—In 1826 Rahway was made a sta-
tion. Thomas B. Sargent was ap-
THE FIRST M. E, CHURCH. 73

pointed pastor and remained two
years. Mr. Sargent was the first pas-
tor whose services were devoted ex-
clusively to the First Methodist Epis-
copal Church and his pastorate marks
the opening of a new era for Method-
ism in Rahway.
CHAPTER IV.

 

‘IN THE OLD FIRST M. E. CHURCH.

In regard to the organization of the Sun-
day-school, wnich was opened as soon as
Rahway became a separate charge, we
cannot explain it better than to quote an
extract from a letter written by the first
superintendent, Mr. John 8S. Swain.

‘*T have some definite recollection of the
first effort made to organize a Sunday-
school. It was in the Fallof 1826. I was
chosen superintendent, secretary and
treasurer. In the following Spring an
effort was made to geta library. A sub-
scription was drawn up but after consider-
able solicitation only three dollars had
 

 

REV. FREDERICK MOO?)
Pastor First M. KE. Church.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 7d

been subscribed. The pastor, the Rev.
Thomas B. Sargent, called the attention
of the congregation, at the Sunday morn-
ing service, to the matter, telling them
that | had the subscription paper and
would be glad to receive aid for this ob-
ject. The nextmornin: Mr. M. J. Squire,
who was present and heard the notice read,
gave me ten dollars. With this amount,
thirteen dollars in all, I went to New York
and bought what books I could. These
formed a nucleus of the first Rahway M.
E. Sunday-school library. I remained in
the school having charge of it until 1830,
when I moved to Newark.”

At the end of Rev. Thomas B. Sargent’s
first year he reported the membership of
the church as one hundred and _ sixty
white and twenty-two colored; and at the
end of his pastorate the membership had
fallen to onehundred and sixty-five. The
next pastor, the Rev. Thomas J. Thomp-
son, also remained two years and reported
at the end of his term one hundred and
thirty-eight members.
76 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

The first meeting of the quarterly con-
ference of which we have any record was
held July 11th, 1829, during the pastorate
ot the Rev. Thomas J. Thompson. The
names of the stewards are not given and
no business, other than the usual routine
questions and answers, was brought before
the meeting. Atameeting of the stewards
held Jan. 2nd, 1830, the pastor proposed
that the church should erect a house for
class and prayer meetings, and the follow-

ing resolution was passed:
‘Resolved that Brother Thompson,

the preacher in charge, be requested to
call a meeting of the trustees and official
members to consult together on the sub-

ject.”
This house was built on Seminary street

during the pastorate of Rev. Anthony At.
wood 1833-4 and the lower part was used
as a Sunday-school room and the second
story for a day school. This building was
afterward moved to Grunt street, on the
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 77

lot adjoining the church, and fitted up for
a parsonage.

The Rev. William H. Bull wag the next
pastor and assumed charge in 1830. It
was during his term the first delegate was
appointed to meet with delegates from
other charges in the district, to fix the
salary of the Presiding Elder and to ap-
portion the amount to be paid by each
church. Milan Ross was appointed dele-
gate. During’ the last year of Mr. Bull’s
term, Mr. J. O. Tunison was licensed to
preach by Presiding Elder Pittman, and in
1834 was appointed a traveling preacher.

At the end of his first year Mr. Bull re-
ported one hundred and eighty-one mem-
bers and at the end of the second, one
hundred and sixty-two. This fluctuation
of membership which we find in all Meth-
odist churches is difficult to account for,
but is probably largely due to the imper-
fect manner of keeping the records in
those éarly days. Sometimés, howévér,
78 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

the falling off in membership is due to the
establishment of missions and new
churches which some of the members find
more conveniently located.

The Rev. William Granville succeeded
Mr. Bull in 1832 and Isaac N. Felch, who
was then a young man on trial was sent
to assist him. Mr. Granville’s salary was
fixed at three hundred dollars and Mr.
Felch’s at one hundred dollars per year.
The circuit at this time included Wood-
bridge, Perth Amboy, New Dover, Wind-
mill and Strawberry Hill; five classes on
preaching places beside Rahway. Each
of these classes contributed towards the
support of the two ministers.

In 1832 during the pastoraie of the Rev.
William Granville the trustees John Wil-
son, James Jagues, Michael Harned,
Thomas Badgely, Wesley Robertson and
Leonard Dunn purchased of Elias Stans-
bury, for one hundred and sixty-two dol-
lars and eighty-nine cents, a plot of
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 79

ground adjoining the southwesterly side
of the old burying ground, 72x221 feet.
This was afterward laid out in plots and
used as a cemetery for anumber of years,
and until it was deemed inexpedient lon-
ger to bury within the limits of the city.

During the same year the church was
repaired and an addition was built to it.
At the same time new seats were put in
the lower part and a room partitioned off
under the gallery next to the street.
About the same time a resolution was
passed, ‘‘ that the females be seated in
the middle of the church and if necessary
occupy the wing on the left of the pulpit.”

A committee of four was appointed,
consisting of William Granville, John Wil-
son, James Jaques and Elias Stansbury
were appointed a building committee and
the following were appointed to collect
subscriptions.

Thomas Badgley to collect on the old
county road. and west of the same.
80 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

John Wilson to collect in the neighbor-
hood of Bricktown.

Michael Harned, in Mechanic street.

Wesley Robertson, in Bridgetown.

James Jaques, in Leetown.

Leonard Dunn, in Milton.

Elias Stansbury, to collect generally.

To complete these improvements, five
hundred dollars were raised on bond and
mortgage on the church and lot, which
was afterward, in 1834, transferred to the
Sunday-school house and lot.

Mr. Granville remained but one year,
and at the end of his term reported two
hundred and thirty members, a gain of
seventy-eight.

The Rev. Anthony Atwood was ap-
pointed pastor in 1834, and served two
years. During his pastorate Woodbridge
and Amboy were sét off as a séparate sta-
tion. At this time the stewards and lead-
ers began holding monthly meetings as
well as quarterly conferences. At thé
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 81

close of Mr. Atwood’s term there were
one hundred and ninety nine members.
Mr. Atwood gave his personal attention
to the Sunday-school and left it in a flour-
ishing condition with over a hundred and
sixty scholars on the roll. During his
second veur a camp-meeting in which the
Newark station was invited to assist was
held at a place near Rahway called Goose-
town, and was the means of adding a con-
siderable number to the church.

The Rev. John Nicholson was the next
pastor. He remained but one year. At
the first quarterly conference, Presiding
Elder Matthias recommended the forma-
tion of a society to be called the ‘‘ Rah-
way Benevolent Institution of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church,” embracing the
publication fund, the Missionary, Bible,
Tract and Sunday-school societies, and to
be auxiliary to the parént sociéty of the
M. E. church. This récOmméndation was
adopted wtnaniimously. A Constitution
82 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

was adopted and the society regularly or-
ganized,

The salary of the pastor was fixed at
four hundred dollars. There was but lit-
tle change in the membership during Mr.
Nicholson’s year.

The Rev. J. Buckley was appointed in ;
1886. At this time the Sunday-school
was reported as having been inalow state
during the past winter, but at present in
a prosperous condition with an average
attendance of forty scholars. There
seems to have been a great falling off since
Mr. Atwood’s time.

In 1837, the New Jersey conference was
formed and divided into three districts,
West Jersey, East Jersey and Asbury.
Rahway was placed in the East Jersey
district and the Rev. William A. Wilmer
was appointed pastor. The following
year the conference was divided into five
districts, Newark, Paterson, Rahway,
Trenton and Camden, and Mr. Wilmer
THER FIRST M. /. CHURCH. 83

was returned tothe Rahway charge. Dur
ing the first year of Mr. Wilmer’s pastor-
ate a resolution was passed to purchase a
parsonage if one could be found, suitable
as to location and price, but no further
action was taken at that time so it is pre-
sumed that such a house as they required
could not be purchased.

While the Rev. A. Atwood was stationed
here, 1833 and 1834, he built himself a
house on Seminary street opposite the
church property. The trustees wished to
buy the house fur a parsonage but Mr.
Atwood declined to sell as he intended to
make Rahway his residence if he should .
jeave active service in the ministry. As
no other suitable house could be found
this was rented and used a long time as a
parsonage. Later Mr. Atwood sold the
house to other parties.

Mr. Wilmer reported one hundred and
seventy-four members at the close of his
pastorate.

*
84 — METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

The Rev. Jefferson Lewis came in 183)
and remained only one year. Atthe close
of his term he reported only one hundred
and forty-seven members, the smallest
membership since 182.).

The Rev. Isaac N. Felch, who was here
in 1832, as assistant to the Rev. William
Granville, became the stationed pastor in
1840, and remained two years. Under
his pastorate we find the first complete list
of members, entered in such a manner as
to show the entire list with probationers
separate from full members. During his
first year he conducted a very successful
revival, seventy-two persons joining the
church on probation. . During his second
yéar this number was increased to one
hundred and eighteen. At the Glosé of
his term he réported two hundréd and
twenty-six in full membership. Mr.
Félch was as successful with the Sunday-
school as with the chureh, for undér his
ministration the school increaséd to oné
THE FIRST M. E, CHURCH. 85

hundred and thirty scholars and twenty-
four teachers, and had three hundred and
twenty-five volumes in the library.

The Rev. Thomas Soveri n followed
Mr. Felch in 1842, and at the close of his
first year the membership had increased
to two hundred and seventy-six. This
was no doubt partly due to many of the
probationers, received by Mr. Felch, hav-
ing been admitted to full membership.
Mr. Soverign’s pastorate, however, was
eminently successful as during his first
vear he received sixty-two on probation,
the greater portion of whom were after-
ward found worthy of full membership.

The Rev. Vincent Sheppard served as
pastor 1844 and 1845. In his second year
he was assisted by the Rev. Alexander
Gilmore who was on the supernumerary
list. During his pastorate the gallery was
iowered and new seats put in, and other

changes madein the interior of the church.

About this time a subscription was start-
86 METHODISM IN BAHWAY,

ed to raise money to purchase a parson-
ace. Three hundred and fifty dollars
were subscribed with the prospect of be-
ing able to increase the amount to five
hundred dollars. When the Rev. George
Winsor, Jr., came to the charge, in 145,
another effort wus made to raise money
for the parsonaze, but ction was finally
postponed. At the close of this pastorate
there were two hundred and seventy-
three members on the church roll and one
hundred and thirty scholars in the Sun-
dav-schocl and six hundred and eizhty-
five volumes in the Sunday-school library.

The Rev. Jaynes Ayars was the next
pastor. He remained only one year.
During his pastorate the trustees pu’-
chased from William Tuslce for three hun-
dred and seventy-five dollars the Ist ad-
joining the church on Grand street, fifty-
four feet and six inches front by one hun-
dred and fifty feet deep. The building
on Seminary street was moved to this lot,
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH.

KL
* I

enlarged and fitted up as a parsonage and
the Sunday-school was moved to the gal-
lerv of the church.

On September 23rd, 1848, the trustees
passed a resolution to lay out and grade
the new burial ground and tosell the sa:ne
to liquidute the parsonaze deb*. als» to
give Isaac Osborn a mortzize of eizit
hundred dollars on the parsonage as se-
curity for bank notes, which he had given.
on account oi the parsonage.

This was the last year in which all the
Methodists of Rahway worshiped in the
same church, and the membership at the
close of Mr. Avars’ year was forty-four
probationers and two hundred and forty-
eizht in fall connection. The Sunday-
school had one hundred and ferty scholars
and twentv-three teachers.

The next pristorate, that of James H.
Dandy. suw the birth of a new church in
Rahway. A number of members of the
First ehare. livins in whit was then
88 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

called upper Rahway desired to form a
new society and asked for letters of dis-
~ missal from the old church for that pur-
pose. Their request was granted and
the seceding members formed what is
now Trinity Methodist Episcopal church.
This materially weakened the mother
church both in numbers and in financial
resources, and she began her next year
with only one hundred and fifty-eight
members and two probationers, and the
new church with forty-seven members
and sixty-nine probationers. Mr. Dandy’s
salary was four hundred dollars and do-
nation visit.

From 1850 to 1854 the membership of
the old church continued to decrease year
by year and the membership of the new
church to increase in nearly the same
ratio.

The salary during this period was for
the most part four hundred dollars and
house rent or four hundred dollars and a
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 89

donation visit which should amount to at
least one hundred and fifty dollars.

On February 14th, 1850, the trustees
made the following report of their indebt-
dness:

Mortgage on parsonage, $800.90.
Interest on same, 64.00.
Note to Alfred Stone, 417.47,
Balance for finishing parsonage, 25.29,

 

Total $1,306.76.

In the minutes of this meeting we find
the church first spoken of as the First M,
E. church of Rahway.

These debts appear to have been nearly
all paid or provided for during the follow-
ing year. Jeaving the church practically
free of debt.

The Rev. Joseph Chattle served as pas-
tor in 1850 and 1851. He was succeeded
in 1852 by the Rev. C. Talley, who re-
mained but one year.

The Rev. Richard Rusling followed Mr.
90 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Talley and served during the years 1853
and 1854, Atthis time the membership

was one hundred and twenty, and seven
on probation.

The following letter irom the Rev.
Charles Larue, who was pastor during the
years 1855 and 1856, will be read with in-
terest:

May 10th, 1898.

“T was sent to the Upper Rahway
church in the spring of 1855: The mem.
bership at that time consisted largely of
elderly people, the younger and more act-
ive portion having withdrawn to form the
new church at Lower Rahway.

For vears the conference had appointed
elderly men to the pastorate. The church
raised the money for current expenses ‘by
renting the pews and the appointment
came to be called “A Sailors’ Snug Har-
bor”’ for old preachers.

‘‘In the spring of 1855 they petitioned
for me as a younger preacher. I found a
number of devout and ripe Christians, and
a nuinber of them well furnished with this
world’s goods.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 91

‘“At my solicitation the pews were
made free, and the congregation improved,
We held meetings in the winter though
few were converted.

‘In the spring of 1856 the old church
was torn down and a new, a larger, edifice
was commenced. And I remember that
the brothers, Isaac and William Osborn,
headed the subscription with $1,000 each,
The building was erected and the base-
ment finished in the fall after which the
public services were held therein. Dur-
ing the summer they were held in the
Presbyterian church, through the kind-
ness of the pastor and trustees.

‘*The next spring, my time having ex-
pired, Rev. David Teed was appointed.

“It was in 1857 that the church was
dedicated. I remember the presence of
Dr. Wiley, afterward Bishop; Dr. Jesse
T. Peck, afterward Bishop, and Dr.
Dashiell. I have forgotten who preached
in the morning. Dr. Peck preached in
the afternoon and I was put on at night.
Dr. Dashiell, of course, was the manager
of the collections.
METHODISM IN RAHWAY, 92

**The hotise and lot next to the church
westward was owned by the church as a
parsonage and I think free of debt.

Bro. Stone was then an old man of very
sturdy character and deeply religious.
He came to us from the Episcopal church
many years before. He departed while I
was the pastor. It was he, with his ac-
customed keen wit, who in reply to one
of the former pastors who in a fit of im-
patience had said: in an official meeting
‘‘yvour’s is only a second rate appointment
anyhow.” ‘So I should think” retorted
Bro. Stone, ‘‘by the kind of preachers
they send us.’ I would enjoy speaking
or writing of a number of the old friends
of Upper Rahway, but I must forbear.”

The preacher in the morning, whose
nanié Mr. Larue had forgotten, was the
Rev. Thomas B. Sargént, who was the
first pastor after the church became a
station.

The first official aetion taken by the
board of trustees towards building a new
church was on June 17, 1856, when the
 

 

 

 

THE LATE ISAAC OSBORNE.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 93

following resolution was passed unani-
mously, the full board being present:

‘** Resolved, That we build a new brick
church fifty-feet front by seventy feet
deep, said church to have a gallery at the
sides,

‘* Resolved, That the old church be ad-
vertised and sold to the highest bidder,
reserving the seats up and down stairs,
with the pulpit, altar-railing and inside
doors to entrance.

‘*Resoived, That a committee of three
be appointed as a building committee to
superintend the building of said church,
that committee to be the following per-
sons: Isaac Osborn, William H. Flatt,
Francis E. Terrill.”

This plan was modified and a gallery
built across the front for the choir and
none on the sides.

Below we give a list of subscribers giv-
ing ten dollars or more to the building
fund of the new church. There may pos-

bly be other lists or ‘other subscribers
94. METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

but these are the only ones that we can
find.

Isaac Osborn, $1,000.
William Osborn, $1,000.
Alfred Stone, $250.
Francis E. Terrill, $300.
Daniel Ross, $100.

John B. Price, $100.
James T. Terrill, $100..
William E. Terrill, $100.
William E. Potter, $100.
Robert Simpson, $100.
Amos T. Robertson, $100.
. William H. Flatt, $300.
Joseph T. Crowell, $100.
Ralph Marsh, $100.
Isaac F. Marsh, $50.
John High, $50.

David Rogers, $50.

John Clay, $50.

John E. Denman, $50.
Wesley Baldwin, $15.
John Honnowell, $10.
Smith Coddington, $10.
William M. Esler, $10.
John D, Chapin, $10.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 95

John Urmston, $10.
Augustus E. Lang, $14.
Daniel E. Randolph, $10.
Samuel T. White, $19.
George J. Truster, $10.
John P. Mills, $10.

A. W. B. Monroe, $10.
Dr. 8S. Cook, $10.

K. D. Woodruff, $10.
Milan Ross, $10.
Thomas H. Shaffer, $10.
James O. Halsey, $10.
John C. Ludlow, $10.
Edon Haydock, $10.
Nicholas Mooney, $10.
John Honewell, $25.

F. M. Belding, $25.

I, P. Tingley, $25.

John Randolph, $30.
John H. Duren, $25.
Thomas A. Lee, $25.
George H. Martin, $25.
John R. Ayers, $25.

I. P. Smith, $25.
Jonathan Thompson, $25.

A. C. Watson, $25. ;
J. & A. Woodruff & Co., $25.
96 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

F, Osborn, $30.
Henry Silvers, $25.
R. De Camp, $10.
L. Bumgartner, $10.
Oackley, $10.

T. Abernethy, $10.
Milan Ross, $10.
James I. Bell, $10.
Archer Miller, $10.
H. N. Oliver, $20.
J. Garthwait, $20.
John Morrill, $10.
Joel Osborn, $10.

The corner stone was laid August 1,
1856.

The contract for building the church
was given to Isaac Osborn, he agreeing
to build the new church complete, except
blinds, and paint it for ten thousand dol-
lars and the old church and lecture room.
The entire cost of the church, as given in
Mr. Osborn’s statement, to the trustees,
was eleven thousand nine hundred and
forty-six dollars and sixteen cents, but
this included blinds and such items as
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 97

lamps, flagging, insurance, cushions, and
many other charges not properly included
in the cost of the church. Of this amount
$4,000 was secured by a mortgage on the
church and the balance paid in subscrip-
tions while the church was being built or
soon afterward.

The church as finished was practically
as it stands to-day, except that the main
entrance in front was in the basement,
with steps leading from the vestibule to
the auditorium.

Atthe General Conference of 1856 the
New Jersey conference was divided, and
the Newark conference formed, the latter
comprising the northern part of the state
and portions of New York; and the follow-
ing year, 1857, the Rev. David Teed was
sent to the First M. E. church, of Rahway.

He remained two years and during his
first year he had a most successful re-
vival, through which one hundred and
twenty-nine persons joined the church
98 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

on probation. Atthe end of his term the
membership had increased from one hun-
dred and thirty-three, to one hundred and
ninety-six. The Sunday-school num-
bered one hundred and thirty scholars
and twenty-five officers and teachers.
The benevolences for his last year not-
withstanding the great expense of build-
ing a new church, which the congregation
had so recently met, amounted to two
hundred and seventy-two dollars and
forty cents. Mr. Teed was followed by
the Rev. William Day. At the end of
his first year two hundred and twenty-
two members were reported, the largest
of any year from the formation of Trinity
church to the present time and his salary
was increased to seven hundred and fifty
dollars. But there was a great falling off
in benevolences which amounted to only
sixty-one dollars and fifty cents. The
church property at this time was valued
at $15,000 and the parsonage at $3,000.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 99

On March 1859 the trustees passed a
resolution inviting the annual conference
to hold its next session (1869) in Rahway.
This invitation was accepted a year later.
The annual conference of 1861 was held
in this church, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ames
‘presiding, and the residents of the city
gave a warm welcome and cordial enter-
tainment to both clergy and laity.

The Rev. R. B. Yard came in 1861, at
the beginning of the Civil War. He re-
mained but two months when he was ap-
pointed chaplain in the army and the Rev.
Nicholas Vansant was sent to fill out the
remainder of the year.

Mr. Vansant gives the following account

of his pastorate:

‘“*My pastorate at the First church,
Rahway, was a very brief one, covering
the nine months between June, 1861 and
April, 1862. The circumstances con-
nected with my appointment to that
charge, are sufficiently detailed in my
book, ‘‘ Sunset Memories.’”’ Those troub
100 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

lous war times had inflicted upon that
church a double bereavement, the loss of
its beloved pastor, Rev. Robert B. Yard,
who had been appointed a chaplain in the
United States Army, and the far heavier
loss to the whole place of its large manu-
facturing business and financial thrift.
These sudden losses so serious and so
hapless, but not hopeless, had brought
that church to the condition of Gideon
and his heroic three hundred, whose in-
vincible courage has come down to us
enshrired in the golden historic sentence,
‘Faint, yet pursuing.” Notably true was
this of First church, Rahway, in the
spring of 1861.

“The question of strengthening the
things that remained in the edification of
believers and the conversion of sinners,
very far outweighed all questions of salary
and mere financial progress; yet the pas-
tor’s support ($400 for the nine months)
was paid promptly and cheerfully, while
all the benevolent collections were raised
without undue pressure, several of them,

s the Missionary, Bible and Conference
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH; 101

Claimants, being in excess of the previous
year. Nor was the membership material-
ly reduced in number, the Conference
Minutes of 1862 showing a total of 174 es
against 186 the year before, the number
of probationers being 14. Under the pe-
culiar circumstances a much _ greater
shrinkage would not have been surpris-
ing; and that the list of probationers was
no larger resulted from other causes than
a lack of earnest and persistent effort.”

Mr. Vansant was succeded by the Rev.
John I. Morrow who remained two years.
At the close of his term the membership
had fallen to one hundred and twenty-
nine but the benevolences had increased
to over one hundred dollars. There were
one hundred scholars in the Sunday-
school and twenty-four officers and teach-
ers. The pastor’s salary was five hun-
dred dollars.

In. 1864 the name of the district was
changed from Rahway, which it had borne
since 1838, to Elizabeth district. Under
102 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

the next pastor, the Rev. David Graves;
the church seems to have enjoyed a new
era of prosperity. He remained three
years, from 1864 to 1866. In each year
of his pastorate he conducted successful
revivals and at the end of his term there
were one hundred and seventy-four mem-
bers and seventy probationers. There
were one hundred and ninety scholars in
the Sunday-school and thirty-six officers
and teachers. The benevolences amount-
ed to one hundred and ninety-eight dol-
lars for his last year, beside two hundred
and eighty-two dollars contributed to the
centenary fund. The church was val-
ued at thirty thousand dollars, the par-
sonage at four thousand dollars and the
pastor received a salary of one thousand
dollars.

On June 29th, 1866, the trustees author-
ized the president ofthe board to borrow
the sum of $310, on a bank note and pay
the balance of the $4,000 mortgage placed
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 103

on the church when it was built. This
was done and the mortgage satisfied and
cancelled.

In 1867 the steeple was repainted, the
walls repaired, the grounds graded and
other repairs made. To meet the ex-
penses of these repairs $1,000 were raised
on the note of the trustees. In 1870, dur-
ing the same pastorate, a mortgage of
$1,500 at seven per cent. interest was
placed on the parsonage to settle out-
standing claims. This mortgage finally
resulted in the loss of the parsonage and
the lot on Seminary street.

During the two years’ pastorate of the
Rev. George W. Treat 1867-9 there was a
slight falling off in membership, and in
the Sunday school but an increase in the
benevolences. During the Rev. J. M.
Tuttle’s term in {869-71 the membership
increased from one hundred and forty to
one hundred and sixty. The benevo-
lences reached probably the highest figure
104 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

in the history of the church, three hun-
dred and eighty-seven dollars, and the
pastor’s salary was increased to twelve
hundred dollars.

The Rev. H. D Opdyke was appointed
pastor in 1871 and remained three years.
During the early part of his pastorate the
stewards passed a resolution that only
unfermented wine should be used upon
the communion table. They also recom-
mended that the trustees should sell the
lot on Seminary street, and also to sell
the whole church property in order to
perfect the title. This was during the
panic of 1873 and the hard times follow-
ing. The city had spent large sums of
money in grading, paving and sewering
the streets, and was deeply in debt, busi-
ness was paralized and real estate could
hardly be sold at any price. The church
property, except the parsonage had been
bought with a perpetual trust clause in
the deed allowing it to be used for church
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 105

purposes only. In 1873, by an act of the
legislature the trust clause was set aside
and it was proposed to sell the entire
property and buy it back, taking an abso-
lute deed in fee simple in order that
money might be raised by sale of the lot
on Seminary street or by a mortgage on
the church, to meet pressing claims.

On April 21, 1874, the church and lot
on Seminary street were sold to Francis
E. Terrill and on the same day Mr. Terrill
gave the trustees a warranty deed of the
property without any conditions of trust
or limitation. During Mr. Opdyke’s pas-
‘ torate a large sum was expended in im-
provements. The main entrance, which
had been in the basement, was raised
nearly to a level with the audience room,
with a broad flight of steps leading up to
the front doors, and the interior was re-
modelled and fitted up in a most artistic
and attractive manner. To raise the
money for these improvements the trus-
106 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

tees borrowed $1,863.97 on their notes
and a mortgage.

On March 4, 1874, the present corporate
seal was adopted.

At the end cf Mr. Opdyke’s last year
the membership was two hundred, beside
fifty-six probationers. The salary during
his pastorate was fifteen hundred dollars
except the last year when it was reduced
to twelve hundred.

At the last quarterly conference of his
term the trustees made the following re-
port of assets and liabilities:

ASSETS.

Church and lot . . . . . $20,000

Parsonage . .. . mo 3,500

Lots on Seminary street e 1,150
Total . . . . $24,650

LIABILITIES.
Mortgages . .... . . 42,000
Trustees’ notes. . . .. . 1,363 97

Taxes for improvements on
Grand street. . .. . 1,200
 

 

 

 

THE LATE REV. JEREMIAH COWINS,
Died at Bound Brook, N. J., Feb. 3, 1897, aged 67 years:
Forty-one years in the Ministry.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 107

Taxes for improvements on
Seminary street. . . . 297

Total . . . . $4,860 97

The next pastor was the Rev. Alexander
Craig who remained two years 1874-75,
during which time the membership
dropped to one hundred and seventy.
The salary was reduced to one thousand
dollars. This was during the hard times
which followed the panic of 1873. The
statement of the indebtedness of the
church made in January, 1877, during the
first year of the pastorate of the Rev.
George Winsor, shows that at this time
the total indebtedness was $4,741 84.

The Rev. E. C. Dutcher was the next
pastor. He remained three years from
1879-81. During his pastorate consider-
able money was spent sn the improve-
ment of the church property. The entire
roof, which was of slate, was removed,
and a foundation laid of matched boards
108 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

covered with tar paper and then the slate
replaced. The entire cost of this and
other improvements made at the time was
nearly one thousand dollars, of which
Isaac Osborn, Everitt Terrill and John
Terrill each contributed one hundred
dollars.

The Rev. Richard Johns was pastor two
years, 1882-4. The financial statement of
the trustees made in December, 1882,
gives the bonded debt, $3,112.50; floating
debt, $372.94; city improvement assess-
ments, $1,660.63. During this pastorate
the parsonage was sold under foreclosure
for $1,050 leaving a deficiency, including
costs and back interest of about $700,
through which the church ultimately lost
the lot on Seminary street.

By a persistent and heroic effort, after
the sale of the parsonage, money was
collected to pay off the fioating debt and
back interest leaving only the mortgage
of $1,500 on the church.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 109

In 1884 the Rev. H. D. Opdyke was
sent for a second term to this church, but
remained only one year when he was fol-
lowed by the Rev. Jerimiah Cowins.
During the latter pastorate the church
mortgage was paid and the church for the
first time in many, many years found
itself free of debt. In order to accom-
plish this Mr. Isaac Osborn gave eight
hundred dollars on condition that the
church should never be mortgaged again.
This mortgage has, however, not been
satisfied on the records in the office of
the county clerk.

The Rev. R. F. Hayes served as pastor
five years, from 1888 to 1893. Three
years as stated pastor and two years as
supply. During that time he received
fifty members on probation and twenty-
five in full connection. During his term
the church was repainted and other im-
provements made costing about three
hundred and fifty dollars. There were
110 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

one hundred and five scholars in the Sun-
day-school, the salary of the pastor aver-
aged about seven hundred dollars per
year. In 1893 during the pastorate of the
Rev. L. R. Dunn, new gas pipes, new
chandeliers and side lights were put in,
the ceiling papered and other improve-
ments made, costing altogether four hun-
dred and sixty-eight dollars. Mr, Dunn
held a successful revival and at the end
of his year the membership had increased
to one hundred and twenty, with thirty-
six on probation.

The Rev. W. B. Judd came to this
church in 1894 and returned in 1895. He
left in June of that year and the Rev. W.
M. Fanton, then a student in the Drew
Seminary, was sent by the presiding elder
to fill out the balance of the year. When
Mr. Judd graduated from Drew Seminary,
he stood highest in his class, and was
therefore entitled to a year’s study in
Europe, at the expense of the Seminary
THE FIRST M. FP. CHURCH. 111

He chose this time for taking his course
abroad. During Mr. Fanton’s term the
new_organ, now used by the choir. was
purchased. The next pastor wis the
Rev. G. H. Winans. At the close of Mr.
Winan’s term the membership had fallen
to ninety-one and the Sunday-school to
one hundred and twenty-eight scholars,
and eizhteen officers and teachers,

He was succeeded in 187 by the Rev.
W.T. Helmes. In January, 1898, he was
appointed Chaplain in the United States
Navy and recently has been proinoted to
chap'aincy of one of our ereatest war-
ships.

The Rev. L J. Gordon was appointed
to fill out the unexpired term. At the
end of this year the membership had in-
creased to one hundred and fourteen.
The conference in 1898 appointed the
Rev. F. C, Mooney to serve throush the
Centennial year of the history of this
church. Mr. Mooney and his congreza-
112 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

tion at once set about making prepara-
tions for celebrating the hundredth anni-
versary of the founding of the church in
a suitable manner. The first work in
this direction was that of re-covering all
the cushions in the Auditorium, and the
second was the compiling and publishing
a complete history of Methodism from
the time of the preaching of the first
Methodist sermon in Rahway in 1774.

The material for covering the cushions
was donated by Messrs. Taylor & Blood-
good through Mr. G. S. Cuttle, and the
work was done by the ladies of the
church.

SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Orricers—G. M. Larrison, superintendent;
Geo. Chamberlin, secretary; W. R. Marsh,
treasurer; Harry Laing, librarian; Wm.
Hardy, assistant librarian; Mrs. J. Mous-
man, organist.

BrstE Crass—Rev. F. C. Mooney, teacher.
Mrs, J. L. Vincent, Mrs. Nettie Williams,
Mrs. M. A. Hoff, Mrs. Ella Lawrence, Miss
 

 

 

 

REV. W. M. FANTON.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 113

Phebe Terrill, Mrs. Geo. Van Sickles, Mrs.
Geo. S. Cuttle, Mrs. Alfred Pearce, Miss
Hattie Osborn, Miss Alice Osborn, Miss
Susie Price, Mrs. Geo. Lawrence.

Crass No. 2—Mrs.G.S.Cuttle, teacher. Miss
Nettie Marsh, Miss Mamie Larrison, Miss
Caddie Muddell, Mrs. Lizzie Weldon, Mrs.
Susie Cuttle, Mrs. A. L. Chase, Miss May
Cuttle.

Crass No. 3--Mr. F. Housman, teacher.
Charlie Sing, Chin Tong.

Cass No. 4—Miss Laura Wright, teacher.
James Manning, Allie Coventree, John
Marsh, Lewis Retiben, Willie Price.

Crass No. 5—Miss J. Ryno, teacher. Nettie
Price, Bertha Stagg, Mabel Marsun, Nettie
Conrad, Ethel Clark, Florence Clark, Anna
Yarnell.

Crass No. 6—Mrs. Westfall, teacher. Miss
Cassie Derrevere, Miss Ella Randolph,
Miss Lillie Yarnall, Miss Maud Lucas, Miss
Eva Terrill, Miss Annie Jaenke, Miss Edith
Kling, Miss Ollie Robson.

Crass No. 7—Miss Emma Randolph, teacher.
Nettie Ryno, Belle Westervelt, Sadie Bern-
hard, Gertrude Vincent, Edith Pierre, Ida
Bedman.
114 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Crass No. 8—Mr.Henry Ulrich, teacher. Ar-
thur Terrill, Harry Suiter, John Durand,
George McChesney. .

Crass No. 9—Mrs. Bernhard, teacher. Alice
Marson, Edith Brindley, Agnes Conrad.
Crass No. 1o—Miss F. LaForge, teacher.
Amy Price, Ethel Macann, Elsie Kling,

Nellie Dougherty.

Crass No, 11—Mrs. J. Housman, teacher.
Alma Paulsen, Beatrice Hardy, Lulu Har-
dy, Lilian Suiter, Ella Suiter, Iva Kelly.

Crass No. 13—Mrs. W. H. Hardy, teacher.
Grace Freer, Susie High, Addie High.

Crass No. 12 (Infant Class)—Miss M. Putnam,
teacher; Mrs. G. Freeman, assistant
teacher. Flossie Price, Freda Brown,
Grace Marsh, Bess Marsh, Fannie Conrad,
Edna Conrad, Harold Williams, Lester
Freeman, Clarence Jacobson, Willie Cuttle
Freddie Kling, Florence Styles, Alice
Kling, Geo. Hardy, Frankie Clark, Ray-
mond Clark, Arthur Coventree, Edith Ter-
rill, Richard Awe, Katie Stevens, Susie
Stevens, Gladys Williams, Richard stevens,
Bert Marson, Jennie Wright, Mildred Ter-
rill, Vina Place.

Epwortu Leacug, WesLey CuarTer 12640:
Mr. Alferd Pearce, president; Miss Julia Ry-
no, first vice-president; Miss Nettie Marsh,
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 115

second vice-president; Mrs. John Housman,
third vice-president; Miss Cassie Dererere,
fourth vice-president; Miss Gertrude Vin-
cent, tresurer; Mrs. G. A: Laurence, secre-
tary; Miss Nettie Marsh, Mrs. Wm. Clarkson,
Mrs. W. Weldon, Mrs. W. Vincent, Miss Met-
tie Ryno, Mrs. Bernhart, Miss Sadie Bern-
hart, Miss Gertrude Vincent, Miss Julia
Kyno, Miss Mattie Putman, Miss Cassie
Dererere, Mr. Alfred Pearce, Mrs. Alfred
Pearce, Mr. Harry Laing, Mrs. Chass, Miss
Clara Mudell, Mrs. J. Housman, Mrs. G. A.
Laurence, Miss Nettie Williams, Miss Ella
Randolph, Miss Mae Cuttle, Mrs. Joshua
Cuttle, Miss Anna Simpson, Mr. Geo. Cham-
berlain, Mr. Nathan Kandolph, Mr. Crew,
Mrs. Crew, Mr: Hardy, Mrs. Hardy, Miss
Ida Bedmen, Mr. Oakletree.
Junior Erwortu LeEacueE:

Miss M. M. Putnam, superintendent; Miss
Westfall, assistant superintendent; Edith
Brindley, Edith Kling, Olive Robson, Eva
Terrill, Annie Jankye, Lillian Suiter, Iva
Kelley, Agnes Conrad, Ethel McCann, Net-
tie Price, Lulu Hardy, Beatrice Hardy, Nel-
lie Dougherty, Florence Clark, Ethel Clark,
Grace Pierre, Elsie Kling, Alice Kling, Fred-
die Kling, Fletcher Brown, Freda Brown,
Frank Clark, Cassie Jaberg, Jennie Jaberg,
116 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Ella Suiter, Raymond Clark, Louie Rubin
Willie Cuttle, Amy Price, Flossy Price, Grace
Freer, Edna Conrad, Fannie Conrad, Flor-
ence Stiles, Nettie Conrad, Bertie Assman,
Katie Stephens, Susie Stephens, Elsie Hali-
day, Agnes Haliday, Geneva Hetfield, May
Keyes, Susie High, Addie High, George
Hardy, Mabel Marson, Mamie Shier.
Lanviges' Arp Society:

Miss Mattie Putnam, president; Mrs. N.
Laing, vice-president; ‘Miss Julia Ryno,
secretary, Mrs. John Bernhard, treasurer;
Miss F, LaForge, Mrs. George. Van Sickles,
Mrs. George Campbell, Mrs. W. R. Marsh,
Miss Emma Randolph, Mrs. J. Randolph,
Mrs. Alfred Pearce, Mrs. Barker, Mrs. George
Cuttle, Mrs. George Wright, Miss Phebe
Terrill, Miss Maggie Thompson, Mrs. Haw-
thotn, Rev. F. C. Mooney. Mr. Alfred Pearce.

S. S. Missionary Soctery:

Miss Nellie Westervelt, president; Miss
Sadie Bernhard, treasurer; Miss Cassie
Derrevere, secretary.

STEWARDS:

Ira Osborn, Andrew Miller, Wm. R. Marsh,
Miss M. M. Putnam, Mr. Geo. M. Larrison,
Miss Julia A. Ryno, Miss Frances Laforge,
Mrs. John Housman, Mrs. G. S. Cuttle, Mrs
T[eH Tlassuy ‘sveatp-"0ag ‘u1ogsO eBay ‘Said ‘9]}IND “Ss a810a5 “IDI MoIpuy
‘yoryQ Arua ‘Surey AlIVYY “GOSTIIVT JY a8100yH, pada, “Ss Atuayy JUS AA TH WITT

 

 
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 117

John Bernhard, Mrs. Noe Laing.
TRUSTEES:

Geo. S. Cuttle, president: Ira Osborn,
secretary and treasurer; Andrew Miller,
Geo. M. Larrison, Henry S. Terrill, Harry
Laing, Russell Hall, Henry Ulrich, William
Wright.

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Bernhard, Mrs. John.

Bomford, Mrs. Sarah.

Brown, Thomas C.

Brindley, Margaret.

Campbell, George.

Campbell, Caroline.

Clarkson, Mrs. Jennie.

Coulter, Mrs. Margaret,

Clark, Hester N.

Cuttle Mrs. Geo. 5.

Cuttle Mrs. Jennie.

Clark, Mrs. Mary.

Chamberlain, George.

Crue, Isaac.

Crue, Mary A.

Chase, Mrs. Fannie.

Derrevere, Matthias.

Derrevere, Elizabeth.

Derrevere, Cassie.

Fagan, Jane.
J18 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Frazee, Amanda.
Gage, Sarah T.
Gorham, Lucinda.
Gorham, Charles.
Helms, Rev. W. T.
Harriman, Wm. P.
Hirst, Martha.
Hawkins, Agnes.
Hall, Russell.

Hall, Mary.

Harris, Wm. A.
Harris, Mary E.
Harned, Amelia Ann.
Housman, Mrs, Cornelia.
Hoff, Martha.

Kelly, Finetta V.
Laforge, Miss Frances.
Laing, Mrs. Fannie.
Larrison, Geo. M.
Larrison, Mrs.
Lawrence, Bessie.
Leonard, Celia.

Lee, Ann E,

Lee Thos. A.

Lee, Susan H.

Long, Nellie.
Lum, Mary E.
Marsh, Isaac F,
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 119

Marsh, Anna Maria.
Marsh, Wm. R.
Marsh, Mary H.
Marsh, Nettie.
McCormick, Mrs. J. A:
Metcalf, Catherine.
Miller, Miss Mary.
Miller, Mrs. Mary.
Miller, Andrew.
Morrell, Martha.
Muddell, Clara P.
Osborn, Ira.
Osborn, Harriet.
Osborn, Alice.
Osborn, Addie.
Osborn, Mrs. Rebecca.
Ovens, Eliza.
Ochiltree, Jane.
Ochiltree, Jas. H.
Ochiltree, Wm, J.
Pearce Alfred.
Pearce, Mrs. Alfred.
Pargborn, Mrs.
Pierce, Ella.

Pierre, Francis,
Place, Sylvester.

Price, Susie.
Price, Louisa.
120 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Putnam, Martha M.
Randolph, John.
Randolph, Jane.
Randolph, Emma J.
Randolph, Elizabeth A.
Randolph, John O.
Randolph, Carrie.
Robertson, Annie D,
Robertson, W. C.
Ross, Mrs. Mary J.
Ryno, Eleazer.
Ryno, Elizabeth O.
Ryno, Julia A.
Ryno, Myra M.
Saling, J. W.

daling, Flora.
Simpson, Anna.
Swain, Rebecca.
Syckles, Matilda.
Stevens, Annie.
Stevens, Richard.
Terrill, Wm. Jr.
Terrill, Phebe R.
Terrill, Cornelia.
Terrill, Henry S.
Tucker, Joanna.
Ulrich, Henry.

Van Sickles, Phebe A.
FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 12]

Vincent, Anthony.
Vincent, Mrs. J. L.
Vincent, Gertrude.
Whitehead, Ann E.
Whitehead, Minnie.
Westervelt, Elizabeth.
Williams Nettie.
Wright, Amanda R.
Weldon, Mrs. Elizabeth.
Wilson, John.
Wilson. Mrs. John.
PROBATIONERS.
Mondrain, Cornelius.
Mondrain, Phebe C.
Hardy, Mrs. Lulu E.
Suiter, Harry.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH,

RAHWAY N. Je
CHAPTER V.

 

TRINITY—ORGANIZATION—FORTY-NINE YEARS
OF PROSPERITY.

Trinity Methodist Episcopal church,
of Rahway, was organized in October,
1849, during the pastorate of the Rev.
James H. Dandy at the First M. E. church.
At that time thirty-one members of the
First church, living in what was then
called upper Rahway, desiring to establish
a new church in a more convenient loca-
tion, asked for letters of dismissal for
that purpose. Their request was granted
although such action would necessarily
end to weaken the mother church.
 

 

 

 

Photo by Jansen.

OLD SECOND M. BE. CHURCH AND PARSONAGE.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 125

The first movement, however, looking
towards the establishment of a separate
service, was taken early in the Spring of
1849, when a Sunday-school and preach-
ing services were started in the old
Athenian Hall, on Irving street. The
first officers of the Sunday-school, elected
before there was any separate church or-
ganization, were the following: Daniel
Wood, superintendent; Henry M. Miller,
assistant superintendent; William N.,
Moore, secretary; Abraham Terrill, treas-
urer; and John E. Moore, librarian. The
services were for the most part conducted
by the Rev. Mr. McFarland, of New York,
a minister who was well off in this world’s
goods, and had no stated appointment.
Mr. McFarland gave his services free and
paid his own expenses. At other times
the services were conducted by different
clergymen in the vicinity.

When the Broad street church of New-
ark was dedicated, Messrs. William M
126 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Esler, Henry M. Miller and Daniel Wood
went to Newark and saw Bishop Janes
and explained the wishes of the new con-
gregation. The bishop approved the plan
of organizing a separate church for upper
Rahway and appointed the Rev. Frank
Bottome, a young minister recently ar-
rived from England, to conduct the serv-
ices. These were continued at the old
Athenian Hall (since burned down) which
stood on the ground now occupied by
Thorn’s lumber yard on Main street, until]
the old church was built.

During Mr. Bottome’s short pastorate
he had one of the most successful revivals,
which had ever visited Rahway, and at
the conference of 1859 he reported sixty-
nine on probation and forty-seven mem-
bers in full connection.

Mr. Bottome afterward became one of
the most successful and distinguished
preachers in the New York conference,
and Mrs. Bottome has achieved a world
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 127

wide renown as the founder of the order
of the King’s Daughters.

The records of Trinity church give the
following as the first or charter members
of the second M. E. church of Rahway,
now Trinity:

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Wood.
ee Henry Miller.
we Hugh Ryno.
as John C, Clark.
a William M. Esler.
7 John E. Moore.
ts Abraham Terrill.
fe William H. Moore.
le John N. Haviland.
es Peter Moore.
“s George Gage.
ee Aaron Cheddick.
Mrs. Harriet Moffet.
Miss Angeline Clevinger.

“* Sarah Congdon.

“Janet Martin.

“© Martha Bennett.

Mr. John E. Moore.
«© R, V. Lockwood.
128 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

The first leaders were Henry Miller,
Daniel Wood and John C. Clark.

The first board of trustees, ‘‘ elected to
serve until the churchshould be regularly
recognized by the conference,” were Will-
iam M. Esler, Daniel Wood and Henry
Miller. :

The conference of 1850 recognized the
second Methodist Episcopal church of
Rahway, and appointed as its pastor the
Rev. Alexander L. Brice, then a young
man and one of the ablest in the confer-
ence,

During the first year of Mr. Brice’s
pastorate the lot, corner of Milton avenue
and Broad street, with a frontage of one
hundred and eighteen feet on Milton ave-
nue, and eighty-three feet on Broad street,
was purchased of Lewis B. Brown for one
thousand dollars, and the trustees Will-
iam M. Esler, Henry Miller and Daniel
Wood started subscriptions to raise money

or the proposed new church. The cor-
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 129

ner stone was laid in September 1850.
The plans decided on were for a brick
building about forty-eight by sixty feet
with basement for Sunday-school and
lecture-room, with a choir gallery across
the front of the main andience room.
The entrances were in the basement with
stairs leading from the vestibule to the
main audience room. The contract for
the wood work was given to George Gage
and for the brick work to William Cro-
well. Work was pushed forward rapidly
and the church was finished and dedi-
cated in the Spring of 1851 before the
session of the annual conference. It cost
about six thousand dollars, and was con-
sidered, in those days, a very fine church
for a small village such as Rahway was
fifty years ago.

Mr. Brice remained two years and dur-
ing that time the membership increased
from forty-seven to one hundred and
twenty-three. Mr. Brice died September
130 METHODISM IN BAHWAY,

11, 1892 at Elizabeth, aged seventy years.
He had served forty-five years in the
ministry. His widow survives and is a
resident of Newark.

In 1852 the Rev. Fletcher Lummis was
appointed pastor. He remained but one
year. He also held a very successful
revival and received fifty-six members on
probation. The salary at this time was
fixed at four hundred dollars and a dona-
tion.

The Rev: Henry M. Brown, the next
pastor, remained two years and durirg
that time received one hundred and sixty-
seven persons on probation and sixty-nine
into full connection. This is the highest
record both in the number of conversions
and members received ever made in any
single pastorate in the city of Rahway.
At the close of his two years service the
church had one hundred and twenty-nine
members and one hundred and ten on
probation.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 131

During Mr. Brown’s term an effort was
made to pay off the church debt. The
lot was still unpaid for and there was a
considerable indebtedness beside. Mr.
Lewis B. Brown, who sold the land to the
trustees and who still held a claim against
the church for the purchase price, one
thousand dollars, offered that, if the trus-
tees would raise enough money within
a limited time to pay off all the other in-
debtedness, he would make the church
a donation of his claim.

The pastor, trustees and congregation
made a most earnest effort to raise the
balance. They happily succeeded, and
before the time set by Mr. Brown had ex-
pired, they had raised the money, and
the church was at last freed from its in-
debtedness.

The Rev. William E. Perry came in
1855 and remained but one year. At the
end of his term there were one hundred
and fifty-three members and six on pro-
132 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

bation. The salary was fixed at three
hundred and fifty dollars.

The next pastor of Trinity church was
the Rev. Ralph 8. Arndt. Mr. Arndt
remained two years, 1856 and 1857, and
during that time received fifty-nine on
probation and twenty-four in full member-
ship. At the close of his term there
were one hundred and sixty-five mem-
bers and sixty-two on probation. There
were one hundred and fifty-one scholars
in the Sunday-school, twenty-six officers
and teachers and four hundred and seventy
volumes in the Sunday-school library.
During his two years, the benevolences
amounted to two hundred and twenty-five
dollars. Mr. Arndt died August 17, 1892
at Newark, N. J., age sixty-six years, hav-
ing servd forty-three years in the ministry.
His widow still survives him and resides
at Newark.

In 1858 Rev. John Scarlett became pas-
tor and served two years. It was during
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 133

his pastorate that the parsonage was built
on Broad street on a portion of the church
lot. The parsonage was a comfortable
and commodious residence and cost about
three thousand dollars. During his term
the membership increased to two hundred
and the Sunday-school to two hundred
and seventeen scholars and teachers and
the salary was increased to six hundred
and seventy-five dollars. The benevol-
ences for the two years amounted to over
three hundred dollars. Mr. Scarlett died
at Orange, N. J., January 18, 1889 at the
ripe age of 86 years, having been forty-
eight years in the ministry.

The Rev. Thomas Walters came next,
in 1860, and remained two years. Dur-
ing his term there was a small increase
in membership and in his second year the
benevolences amounted to only $17.87.
“This was the first year of the Civil War,
which probably accounts for the great
falling off in the benevolent contributions.
134 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Mr. Walters died at Hackensack, N. J.,
July 7, 1879, age 55 years. He hadserved
in the ministry thirty years. His widow
resides at Middletown, Connecticut.

Mr. Walters was followed in 1862 by
the Rev. B. O. Parvin. During Mr. Par-
vin’s pastorate the Sunday-school in-
creased to two hundred and thirty-three
scholars and teachers and the benevo-
lences to $89.50, but there was consider-
able falling off in the membership and the
salary was reduced to four hundred dol-
lars.

The next pastor, the Rev. Sylvester N.
Opdyke remained but one year. During
his pastorate the first organ was used in
the church, a Mason & Hamlin cabinet.

The Rev. J. W. Young was the next
pastor. Mr. Young organized the Sunday-
school Missionary Society in 1865. Dur-
ing its first year this society contributed
$319 to Missionary fund and the next year
$73, making a total of $392 contributed by
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 135

the Sunday-school during Mr. Young’s
two year’s pastorate. During his second
year the church contributed $334 to the
Centenary fund and $182 for benevol-
ences. The salary was increased to $x00.
The record for Mr. Young’s pastorate
shows him to have been a most excellent
financial manager. There was also a
slight increase in the membership. Dur-
ing his last year he held a successful re-
vival and about sixty persons joined the
church on probation.

The Rev. John 8S. Porter served as pas-
tor from 1867 to 1869. During his pastor-
ate the entrance to the church was
changed. The front doors, which were
originally in the basement, were raised
to a level with the main audience room
and the front of the church was greatly
improved. This was made necessary by
the encroachments of the Railroad com-
pany when the road was widened and
made a four track road, and the raising
136 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

of the street to accommodate the new
grade. Atthe same time the interior was
remodeled and frescoed and the lecture
room improved and beautified, all of which
cost the church a large sum of money.
To meet this a mortgage of twenty-five
hundred dollars was placed on the church.
The church ultimately received as dam-
ages from the Railroad company for oc-
cupying the street in front of the church
and parsonage, about seven thousand dol-
lars.

An amusing incident is told of this
work of beautifying the church. A
French artist was employed to paint the
frescoes. Some of the church people
went into the building on Sunday and
were surprised to find the Frenchman
hard at work. They ordered him to de-
sist. He said it was not wicked to paint a
good angel in a church even on Sunday
and refused to stop work.

At the re-opening of the church, Bishop
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 137

Janes conducted the services in the morn-
ing and the Rev. William Corbett in the
evening. The church looked very fine
and the people were congratulated by the
Bishop on their beautiful house of wor-
ship.

During Mr. Porter’s term, there was a
slight increase in the membership but a
falling off in the Sunday-school. The
salary was raised to one thousand dol-
lars; the Sunday-school contributed two
hundred and thirty dollars to the mission-
ary fund. The benevolences for Lis last
year were two hundred and twenty-seven
dollars. Mr. Porter died Oct. 2, 1890 at
Burlington, N. J., aged 86 years. He had
served inthe ministry sixty-one years, a
record surpassed in the conference only
by Father Boehm and Josiah F, Canfield.

The Rey. B. 0. Parvin served his second
term as pastor of this church from 1870
to 1873. Durine a portion of his term, on
account of ill health, he was assisted bY
138 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

the Rev. George W. Smith, now presiding
elder of the district. During his last year
Mr. Parvin held a successful revival and
forty were taken in on probation, twenty -
six of whom were afterwards received
into full connection. The salary was
raised to fourteen hundred dollars. Dur-
ing his three years, the Sanday-school
contributed $420 to the Missionary fund,
Mr. Parvin is still a resident of Rahway
and is on the supernumerary list.

-The next pastor was the Rev. Rk. TB.
Lockwood. Mr. Lockwood conducted a
very successful revival during his year,
and left eighty-three on probation and one
hundred and eighteen in full connection.
The Sunday-school showed a marked in-
crease with two hundred and fifty-three
scholars and teachers at the end of his
year. The salary was fourteen hundred
dollars.

The Rev. T. H. Landon served as pastor
for three years, 1874 to 1877. During his
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 139

term he received fifty members on pro-
bation and thirty-two into full member-
ship. His pastorate followed immediate-
ly after the great panic and his salary was
reduced to eleven hundred dollars. Not-
withstanding the hard times the Sunday-
school contributed $584 to the missionary
fund, and the benevolences for his last
year were $187. At this time the church
debt amounted to thirty-five hundred
dollars.

The Rev. John W. Seran was appointed
pastor in 1877 and served two years. He
received fifty-nine on probation of whom
forty-four were admitted into full con-
nection, an unusually large proportion.
The Sunday-school again shows a slight
falling off both in number and in contri-
butions to the missionary fund. At the
close of his term there were one hundred
and ninety-eight scholars and teachers in
the Sunday-school and their offerings for
the two years amounted to $172. Mr.
140 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Seran died September 14, 1896, at Newark,
N. J., age 72 years, and had served in the
ministry forty-six years.

At the last quarterly conference of Mr.
Seran’s term, the Rev. B. O. Parvin, on
behalf of the board of trustees, made the
following report:

‘*The church property consists of church
edifice and parsonage with land attached,

conveyed to the trustees in accordance
with form laid down in the Discipline
and valued at $10,000 on which there is a
debt of $4,250, viz.: a mortgage of $3,500
held by the Rahway Savings Institution,
a note of $250 held by a member of the
board and $500, unpaid assessments, with
four years accrued interest on the same,
making a total of $4,250 beside accrued
interest.

‘Ag the Discipline calls not only fora
report of indebtedness, but how those
debts were contracted. we have to say
that on the 1st of July, 1859, money was
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 141

raised by mortgaging the amount of $1,700,
said money applied to payment of debts
contracted in building the parsonage and
on April Ist, 1870, an additional $800 was
taken by the Rahway Savings Institution,
making $2,500. Part of this $800 was ap-
plied to painting, and in part refurnishing
parsonage and repairs in and around the
church and parsonage, and to meet some
obligation in way of current expenses.

‘Still another $1,000 was taken by the
same Institution, lst of July, 1873, can-
celling all former mortgages and making
one of $3,500. Said $1,000 applied to
paying assessments. The $250 raised on
note in 1875 and 1878 was applied to meet
current expenses.” .

Mr. Seran was followed by the Rev. D.
Halleron who remained three years.
There was but little change either in
membership or benevolences during this
time, although about five hundred dollars
were paid on the church debt. In Octo-
142 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

ber, 1879, the Rev. Mr. Halleron and Jacob
Hyer were appointed a committee to se-
cure a $1,000 improvement bond. These
bonds were worth only 35 per cent. but
could be used at their face value for pay-
ing city improvement assessments. At
the next meeting, held December |, 1879,
the committee reported that they had
collected the money required and the
surplus of $73.25 which was turned over
to the trustees.

During the next pastorate that of the
Rev. T. E. Gordon, the mortgage on the
church bearing 7 per cent. interest was
paid off and a new mortgage given at 6
per cent. Over one thousand dollars
were spent in improvements. The walls
were refrescoed, the aisles widened, the
seats lowered and new carpets purchased.
There was little change in the member-
ship or in the Sunday-school. The con-
ference report for 1866 gives two hundred
and thirty-four scholars in the Sunday-
 

 

 

REV. W. H. RUTH,
Pastor Trinity M. E. Church.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 143

school and the report for 1884 gives the
total as one hundred and _ forty-two.
Since this time the Sunday-school reports
show a marked increase.

The Rev. W. H. Ruth was the next
pastor. He remained three years, 1885 8.
During his term he received seventy-four
members on probation, of whom fifty-three
were received into full connection. The
salary was eleven hundred and fifty dol-
lars and the benevolences for his last year
were three hundred and eleven dollars.
During the three years the Sunday-school
contributed one hundred and seventy-
seven dollars to the missionary fund.
At the close of his term there were forty
members on probation and one hundred
and ninety-one in full connection; and two
hundred and thirteen scholars and teach-
ers in the Sunday-school. During Mr.
Ruth’s pastorate $768 were paid inliquida-
tion of church debts.

Mr. Ruth was succeeded by the Rev. C
144 METHODISM IN, RAHWAY,,.

F.. Hull who remained three years. In
August, 1888, the trustees applied to the
quarterly conference for authority to sell.
all or a portion of the church property.
This authority was given at the meeting
of the next quarterly conference held
September 13th, 1888. During Mr. Hull’s
pastorate a settlement was made with
the Pennsylvania Railroad company. The
entire property had been offered to the
Company for thirteen thousand dollars
but the Company refused to purchase the
property at that price. The trustees then
offered to accept seven thousand dollars
damages if paid at once. The question

went before the commission which
awarded the church seventy-two hundred

dollars. Of this amount $500 were paid
to the attorneys, $3,526.83 to cancel the
mortgage on the property, and $3,000 in
part payment for the lot where the church
and parsonage now stand, the purchase
price of which was $5,500.
 

 

 

 

MRS. ANNA EVANS.

 
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 145

At a meeting of the board of trustees
held July 9, 1891, the following building
committee was appointed: Rev. T. C.
Mayham, L. S. Hyer, Charles Drake, Will-
lam F. Rossell, J. M. Brookfield, David
Voorhies, F. A. Reinhart, D. K. Ryno
and Mr. Howard.

On February 5, 1892, Mr. Mayham re-
ported to the building committee that he
had subscriptions amounting to fifty-five
hundred dollars and the committee de-
cided to build a church to cost about
fifteen thousand dollars.

Mr. Charles G. Jones was employed as
architect and was instructed to draw plans
for building to be not over 60x100 feet and
to seat four hundred in the main audi-
torium, to be heated by steam and to have
a kitchen in the basement.

On March 28, 1892, the president and
secretary of the trustees were authorized
to accept the deed of the new church site

‘ J , = 2
orner Main street and Milton avenue, and
t
146 METHODISM IN BAHWAY,

to execute a mortgage for $2,500 for the
balance of the purchase price.

As soon as the specifications were com-
pleted and approved, bids were called for.
The lowest of the six bids offered was
that of Patrick Sheridan for $17,775. The
contract was awarded to Mr. Sheridan on
June 6, 1892.

Ground was broken for the new build-
ing on Monday, June 18, 1892, and the
corner stone was laid on Saturday, August
18, of the same year. The work was
pushed rapidly forward and on Sunday,
June 11, 1893, the basement was opened
for service. The first service in the new
church was held by the Epworth League,
and was lead by Miss Hattie Learned.
About the same time the old church and
parsonage were sold to Harriet A. Looker
for $1C,250. The money received from
this sale was of great assistance in com-
pleting the new edifice.

Owing to the hard times slower pro-
TRINITY M. E, CHURCH. 147

gress was made in completing and fur-
nishing the church and the building was
not fully completed until December 1895.
The first payment was made to the con-
tractor August 8, 1892 and the final pay-
ment December 28, 1895.

At a meeting of the membership held
December 17, 1895, shortly before the
dedication of the church, a motion to
change the name of the corporation to
Trinity Methodist Episcopal church was
passed by a vote of twenty-seven to six,
and a request sent to the trustees to make
the proposed change. This was done at
the next meeting held December 23, by
an unanimous vote.

The church was dedicated by Bishop
Cyrus Foss December 29, 1895, in the
presence of a large congregation and a
number of visiting clergymen including
the Rev. Dr. Buckley, the editor of the
‘*Christian Advocate,” the Rev. B. O.
Parvin, who had served two terms as
148 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

pastor of the church, the Rev. W. M.
Fanton, of the Rahway First M. E. church,
and Prof. Thomas H. Landon, of the Bor-
dentown Military Institute. Bishop Foss
preached in the morning and the Rev. Dr.
Buckley in the evening. .

The dedicatory ceremony took place
in the evening, after the other services.
President Hyer, in behalf of the trustees
and officials of the church, formally de-
livered the church over to the Bishop who
then made a formal dedication of the edi-
fice, according to the ritual of the church.

An elaborate and extensive musical
program was rendered at the different
services of the day by the choir under
the direction of their leader, Mr. George
M. Gage, and the church was tastefully
decorated with flowers and potted plants
from the conservatories of Messrs. W. F.
Rossell and W. B. Du Rie, which were
arranged under the supervision of Mr.
Rossell, as was also the arch over the
 

Photo by Jansen.

INTERIOR OF TRINITY M. E. CHURCH.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 149

platform and a silver star, studded with
small electric lights, above which was the
word ‘‘ Trinity ”’ in silver letters.

Among the special gifts aside from
money subscriptions were the following:

The stone steps at the three entrances,
the cushions for the pews, the altar fur-
niture, and one of the large windows by
Mrs. Anna Evans.

Large window by Mr. and Mrs. Wm.
H. Acken.

Mrs. Evans has contributed most gener-
ously to every enterprise of the church
since making her residence in Rahway.
Her grandfather was identified with the
early Wesleyan movement in Yorkshire,
England. She is now eighty-five years
old but keeps in touch withthe Methodist
churches local and general.

Window in the Milton avenue vestibule
by the Epworth League.

Window in Main street vestibule by the
Junior Epworth League.
150 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

The three windows in the rear of the
choir were given, one each, by Lewis 8.
Heyer, Ebenezer Muddell and Patrick
Sheriden, the contractor. The lighting
fixture, combination gas and electric,
chairs for lecture rooms, and other fur-
niture by the Ladies’ Aid society.

The cuts which we give of the exterior
and interior of the new church describe
the beauty of its design and elegance of
fittings and furnishings better than any
words of ours could do. It is a credit
to the builders, the church and the city.

Arrangements were begun in 1895, be-
fore the church was completed, for a new
parsonage, the old one having been sold.
At a meeting of the official board held
September 20, 1895, the plans for the new
parsonage were approved and adopted,
Mr. H. L. Lanphear, being the lowest
bidder, was awarded the contract for $3,171
and Mr. W. H. Acken was appointed a
committee to superintend the work.
Aq 010Ud

uasuB f

ALINIVL MAN

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TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 151

Mr. Mayham remained five years, the
full limit of time. During his term he
received one hundred and thirteen mem-
bers on probation of wuom fifty were re-
ceived in full connection. The sulary
was increased to twelve hundred dollars.
At the close of his term there were two
hundred and twelve members and thirty-
five on probation. The Sunday-school
numbered two hundred and twenty-eight.

In 1.6 the Rev. G. C. Moulsdale was
appointed pastor, and remained two years.
During his second vear the parsonage was
completed and Mr. Moulsdale occupied it
during the latter portion of his ministry.
Mr. Moulsdale received thirty-one on pro-
bation of whom seventeen were taken
into full connection. The membership
increased to two hundred and twenty-six
and twenty-eight on probation and the
Sunday-school to two hundred and fifty-
four. The church reported to the last
annual conference as valued at thirty-
152 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

eight thousand dollars and the parsonage
four thousand dollars with the total in-
debtedness of $6,450. In 1898 the present
pastor, Rev. W. H. Ruth, who served this
church so acceptably from 1885 to 1888,
was appointed to a second pastorate over
this church.

The Sunday-school Missionary society,
since its organization in 1865, has con-
tributed three thousand three hundred
and ninety-three dollars to the missionary
fund, a record that is excelled by few
schools of its numbers.

OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.

Trustees—L. S. Hyer, president; W. F. Ros-
sell, secretary; C. E. Reed, treasurer; J.
M. Brookfield, D. K. Ryno, D. H. Voorhies,
Wm. H. Acken, J. W. Bostwick, W. W. Bran-
son,

StEewarps—John W. Martin, District steward;
Geo. M. Gage, recording steward; Newton
Hoffman, Jas. H. Jones, W. W. Branson, W.
F. Rossell, J. M. Brookfield, J. R. Finch,
Wm. B, Du Rie, J. J. Lawrence, John P.
Pratt.
J. M. Brookfield
Db. H

Vv

Ww.

Ww.

oorhies.

3ranson.

Charles E
Hyer, Pres

 

Reed, Treas. D

W. F.

Rossell,

 
  

kK. Ryno. W. H. Acken.

Sec.

J. W. Bostwick.

 
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 153

TRINITY SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Orricers—Rev. W. H. Ruth, acting superin-
tendent; J. M. Brookfield, assistant superin-
tendent; A. G. Sym, secretary; J W. Bost-
wick, treasurer; Jacob Hyer, librarian;
C. Foster Hyer, assistant librarian; Miss
Gussie Leonard, pianist; George M. Gage,
chorister.

Mr. Sym has been secretary for forty-one
consecutive years and it is safe to say that
there is no better Sunday-school secretary
in the conference, or one who keeps his
books in neater or more perfect order.

. EPWORTH LEAGUE.

Orricers—Jas. H. Jones, president; J. M.
Brookfield, 1st vice-president; Miss Louise
Young, znd vice-president; J. P. Pratt,
3rd vice-president; Ida L. Branson, 4th
vice-president; F. L.Reed, secretary; S. N.
Ayers, treasurer; Mrs. H. Stuart, pianist
Epworth League of Trinity M. E. church

was organized February 3rd, 1890, and has

thirty-eight active and a number of associate
members,
CLASSES.

‘““EKurexa”—Rev. B. O. Parvin, teacher.
Franklyn Marsh, Henry S. Lawrence,
Wilbert Acken, John J. Lawrence, Sareno
154 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Ayres, Edwin W. Shackelton, W. Harry
Stuart, Isaac W, Story.

“ LIvyy or THE VaLteY”—Miss Ruth A. Gris-
com, teacher. Mrs. Maggie Wildrick, Mrs.
Annie Titman, Mrs. Thomas Cartwright,
Mrs. C. E. Recd, Mrs. Matilda Acken,
Mrs. Elizabeth Howell, Mrs. Houston,
Mrs. William Hoagland, Mrs. Wall, Mrs.
Jessie Tappan.

‘‘Hopg’’—George M. Gage, teacher. Birdie
Scardifield, Ida Branson, Laura Dunham,
Miss Sheriss, Mrs. Casterline, Mrs. W. T.
Dunn, Mrs. Cassie Springer.

“‘Gorpen Links ’’?—Mrs. W. H. Ruth, teacher.
Mrs. Sadie Roberts, Florence Mundrane,
Gussie Leonard, Susie Leonard, Jennie
Moore, Grace Branson, Ada Branson, Bes-
sie Ayres.

“Witting Workers”—John Ruth, teacher.
Isaac O. Bunn, John L. Hetfield, Frank
Reed, Waiter Bross.

**Goop WiLL””—Miss Fannie Scardifield, teach-
er. Willie Vauls.

‘« Birps oF PromisE”’—Mrs. Hattie D. Stewart,
teacher. Edna Somerindyke, Laura How-
ard, Fannie Turner, Alice Williams, Edna
Genung, Nellie Ditmars, Wilamene Tour-
talet.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 155°

“Littte Worxers”—Miss I,ouisa Young,
teacher. ‘trace Somerindyke, Carrie Het-
field, Elma Esler, Ethel Martin, Abbie
Ayres, Jennic Beman, Susie Mays, Iola
Drake.

‘‘LamBs OF THE Fotp’—Miss Jennie Hyer,
teacher. May Booth, Carrie Marsh, Etta
Lott, Rebecca Patty.

‘‘ Epwortu Guarp”—James HI. Jones, teacher.
Charles Bostwick, John Bostwick, Arthur
Russell, Harry Russell, John Palmer,
Harrie Tourtalet, Gilbert Shipley, George
Ruth.

‘“‘Suininc Licghts”—J. M. Brookfield, teacher.
John Runyon, Willie Turner, Russell Cart-
wright, John Somerindyke, George Rand,
Alexander Mentha, Chester Howard, Sam-
mie Du Rie, Walter Genung, A'bert Scaff,
Camill Merceir, Harrie Orr.

“Rost Bup”—Mrs. Ella Hammon, teacher.
Ella Manning, Ida Manning, Birdie Clay.
Marv Austin, Daisy Decker, Fannie Swares,
Marrie Palmer, Tina Hunter.

“«Goxpen Rop”—Mis¢ Tillie Hetfield, teacher,
Frankie Morse, Freddie Dit:nars, Harrie
Vanpelt, Charlie Reed, Freddie Voorhies,
Garfield Voorhies, Minton D. Bross, Alfred,
Pearson, Harrison Martin, Lawrence Plant.
156 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

««SunsEam ”—-Miss Ada Ruth, teacher, F. El-
va Rossell, Gussie Turner, Lulu Marsh,
Emily Marsh, Vera Esler, Margarite Bross
Edna Beman, Annie Beman, Lena Brink-
man.

“Easter Lituies ’—Mrs. J: H. Jones, teacher.
Helen Rossell, Marian Cartwright, Cor-
nelia Terrill, Robertie Du Rie, Sadie Gage,
Amanda Shipley, Florence Drake.

“Busy Begs” (Primary)—Mrs. Fannie E. Du-
Rie, teacher; Miss Elizabeth Hetfield, Miss
Carrie Donovan, assistant teachers. Ed-
na Howard, Carrie Somerindyke, J.ottie
Morse, Gracie Terrill, Mamie Turner, An-
nie May Reed, Mabel Pender, Lottie Pen_
der, Martha Esler, Hazel Gage, Florence
Howell, Elsie Clayton, Edna Clayton, Mabel
Swares, Jennie Springer, Lizzie Myer,
Mabel Hoagland, Lottie Rand, Essie Huff,
Annie Huff, Frankie. Vanschoick, May
Houston, Annie Schwartz, Sarah Bross,
Ethel Scaff, Marjory Marsh, Margarett
Beekman, Emma Morton, Edith F. Way,
Mildred Provost, Minnie Real, Stella Som-
erindyke, Veda Doty, Mabel Way, Louisa
Plant, George Cooper, Willie Cooper,
Frankie Cooper, Walter Turner, Fredie
Martin, Ray Martin, George Gage, Bertie
Bostwick, Walter Costerline, Rowland Ros-
TRINITY M, E. CHURCH. 157

sell, Britton DuRie, Walter Morse, Ray-
mon Palmer, Cortland Palmer, Charles
Rand, Havens Clayton, Harrie Swares, Wal-
ter Clay, Nelson Turner, Frankie Harned,
George Harned, Freddie Smith, Howard
Clayton, Manning Hoagland, Willie Hous-
ton, Henry Schwartz, Wilber Moore, Henry
Terrill. Virgie Shipley, Charles Wall, John
Wall, Edward Vanschoick, Stanley Wil-
drick, Fay Rossell, Willie Scaft, Bertie
Austin, Lester Marsh, Ray Austin, Walter
Seaman, Henry Fargal, Earl Seaman, Dav-
id Tappan, Howard Tappan, Hilliard Gage,
Raymon Voorhies, James Martin, Cecil
Doty.

MEMBERS.
Acken, William H.
Acken, Mrs. Caroline.
Acken, Samuel,
Acken, Mrs. Matilda.
Acken, Wilbert.
Ayers, Mrs. Jannett.
Acherly, Mrs. Anna.
Acherman, Mrs. Alice A.
Adams, David W.
Ayers, Serena N.
Ayres, Sarah Abbie.
Bauman. Helen.
Bross, Mrs. May.
158 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Bross, Walter.

Brown, Lewis.

Brown, Mrs. May.
Bloomtield, Isaac.
‘Bloomfield, Daniel.
Brookfield, J. Malcolm.
Brookfield, Mrs. Lavina.
Bramon, William W.
Bramon, Ida L.
Branson, Grace L.
Bramon, Ada ©.

Bunn, Mrs. Christiana.
Bunn, Margaret B.
Bunn, Howard B.
Bowher, Mrs. Rachel.
Ball, Mrs. Phebe B.
Bostwick, John W.
Bostwick, Mrs. Mary A.
Booth, Mrs. Mary E.
Booth, Edna May.
Booth, Elias.

Clark D. C.

Clark, Mrs. Rebecca A,
Clayton, H.

Crowell, Mrs. Mary P.
Cartwright, Thomas.
Cartwright, Mrs. Kate.
Cook, Susan.

Cook, Mrs. Alice.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 159

Carpenter, Mrs. Mary M.
Carpenter, M. Josephine.
Carpenter, ida M.
Cooper Mary E.
Carterline, Mrs. Viola A.
Coleman, Mrs, Emma F.
Drake, Charles.

Drake, Mrs. Henrietta.
Drake, Mrs. Jennie.

Du Rie, William B.

Du Rie, Mrs. Fannie E.
Du Rie, Roberta F.
Deyo, Mrs. Julia.
Denman, Carrie P.
Dunham, Fred F.
Dunham, Laura.

Esler, William M.

Esler, William F.

Esler, Elma T-

Esler, Vera M.

Esler, Mrs. Martha A.
Evans, Mrs. Ann.
Frazee, Mrs. Jane L.
Finch, James R.

Finch, Mrs. Mary E.
Freeman, Mrs. Jane C.
Freeman, Sarah E.
Genung, Lulu.
Griscom, Jerusha R.
160 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Griscom, Ruth A.
Gage, George M.
Gage, Mrs. Sara J.
Giese, Carrie.

Hyer, Jacob.

Hyer, Susan E,

Hyer, Jane E.

Hyer, Lewis S.

Hyer, Mrs. Jane.
Hyer, Fred C.
Hughes, Mrs. Sarah.
Hughes, Sarah J.
Hughes, Kate.
Hughes, Jesse A.
Hammond, George.
Hetfield, Matilda L.
Hetfield, Elizabeth M.
Hetfield, John L,
Howard, Charles C.
Howard Mrs. Margaret E.
Heath, Charles.
Heath, Mrs. Ida.
Harned, Mrs. Sarah E.
Hoffman, Newton.
Hoffman, Edward.
Hoffman, Mrs. Mary E.
Hoffman, Walter.
Hillier, Mrs. Annie E.
Hillier, Annie E.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 161

Houseman, Mrs. Libbie.
Hoagland, Eleanora A.
Hoagland, Mrs. Lona S.
Jacques, Mrs. Kate.
Jackson, Mrs. Catherine A.
Jackson, Mrs. Ella.
Jeffries, Christopher C.
Jeffries, Mrs. Ella.
Jones, Mrs. Mary C.
Jones, James H.
Kichner, Valentine.
Kichner, Francis.
Lawrence, Mrs. Elizabeth.
Lawrence, J. James.
Leonard, Mrs. Mary.
Leonard, M. Augusta.
Learned, 5, R.

Learned, Mrs. Emeliae.
locke, Mrs. Hester M.
Lehleiter, Lena L.
Lehbleiter, Anna L.
Lehleiter, Susie L.
Litehell, Georgie.
Longstreet, William H.
Lott, Anna.

Moore, John E.

Moore, Mrs. Ellie.
Moore, Charles A.
Moore, Mrs. Laura D.
162 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Moore, Sara A.

Moore, Mrs, Agnes A.
Miller, Theodore F.
Miller, Mrs. Kate.
McManus, William.
McManus, Mrs. Mary A.
Muddell, Ebenezer.
Muddel,, Mrs. Catherine:
Muddell, Mamie C.
Martin, John W.
Martin, Mrs. Helen.
Martin, Mrs, Wilmina J.
Marshall, Mrs. Martha.
Mead, Addie.

Marsh, Mrs. Mary Ella.
Marsh, Nathaniel P.
Merrick, Blanche E.
Mundrane, Florence,
Martindale, Harry R.
Martindale, Mrs. Marguerite L.
McCann, John.

McCann, Mrs. Margaret.
Meyer, Rose.

Manning, Mrs. Mary.
Mayham, Mrs. Mary A.
Mix, Mrs. May.

Naylor, Mrs. Martha.
Naylor, Emma.

Naylor, Mary J.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH.

Ofstad, Nicholas J.
Pennoyer, Mrs. Anna G.
Pennoyer, Hattie D.
Price, Levi.

Price, Mrs. Sarah J.
Price, Mrs. Emily W.
Price, Mrs. Emily G.
Parvin, Mrs, Joan E.
Pennock, Frank E.
Pickett, Lela.
Putman, Mrs. Sarah A.
Pratt, John R.

Pratt, Mrs. Anna E.
Ramsin, Charles L,.
Ramsin, Mrs. Lucy A.
Reed, Charles E.
Reed, Mrs. Jennie M.
Reed, Franklin §S.
Rigby, Mrs, Catherine.
Robinson, John VY.
Rossell, William F.
Rossell, Mrs. Helen D.
Rossell, Florena E.

Rubeck, Mrs. Elizabeth,

Runyon, George W.
Runyon, Mrs. Maggie A.
Ruth, Mrs. Martha B.
Ruth, John W.

Ruth, William H., Jr.

163
164 METHODISM IN RAHWAY,

Ruth, Mrs. Ada F.

Ruth, George M.

Ryno, Daniel K.

Ryno, Mrs. Rebecca.
Sym, Albert G.

Sym, Mrs. Mary E.
Scrimshaw, Charles.
Scrimshaw, Mrs. Emma.
Seitz, Jennie F.

Seman, Mrs. Fannie.
Sharp, Kate.

Scardefield, Birdie.
Scardefield, Mrs. Violetta.
Scardefield, Francis.
Simpson, Jennie L,
Shackleton, Edwin W.
Shipley, Mrs. Eva.
Shipley, Amanda C.
Springer, Mrs. Catherine.
Somerindyke, Mrs. Martha J.
Slack, Mrs. Joanna S.
Southard, Mrs. Anna.
Thorne, Albert.
Turtellott, Wilhelmina.

Tatters, Belle.
Turner, Mrs. Sarah.

Turner, Mrs. Mary K.
Turner. Sara.
ADVERGISEMENGS.
     
 

ADVERTISEMENTS.

HAVE YOU SEEN
THE NEW CHORUS OF PRAISE,

By PROF. J. M. BLACK,

The Bante Leader of Popular aoe Services |

ULL OF G”°OD THING ‘
Old Songs ‘tat have charmed you. Tew Songs that

will inspire you.
tS" BIGGEST BOOK ISSUED FOR ITS PRICE.

Single copy, postpaid.......1.....:.cscescesseeeeseeseeeteaseettenee a
Per dozen, not prepaid... sas
Por hundred, not prepaid. iagaseadeive

EATON & MAINS, "REA:

er lL MOORE,
——-%» THE STATIONER, +e

34-36 Cherry Street, Rahway, N. J.
Everything Used in the Scationary Line

IS WHAT WE SELL.
Picture Frames, Art Novelties, etc., etc.

“LEHMAN & CO..”
1\GROCERS AND BUTCHERS

45 and 47 IRVING STREET, 144 MAIN STREET.
- “OUR MOTTO”
ALWAYS THE BEST, AT CUT PRICES.

JOHN E. MOCRE & SON, > 46

DEALER IN
GROCER:ES, PROVISIONS,

CONFECTIONERY, ETC.
280 and 282 Main pinnets RAHWAY, N. J.

   
   
  
  
   
 
   
  
     
  
      

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 
eNOS

ADVERTISEMENTS.

A. M. FRAZEE,
, TAILORESS.
Men’s Clothing Cleaned and
Pressed, Repairing Promptly Done.
59 Lewis Sireet, RAHWAY,N. J.

D.K. RYNO,
Funeral Director,
CASEEBT WARHKBROOMS,
Irving, Head of Main Street.

R. SAUER,

BREAD CAKE AND PIE BAKER,
35 Oliver Street.

M. W, BAUMGARTNER,
MEAT MARKET.
ALSO, DEALER IN
Fine Vegetables, Groceries, Provisions.
Terms CasH. 158 Grand Street, Cor. Oliver.

 

 

 

 

SELLS LLL EEL LE OEE LE OM MOOG

 

 

 

s
%
2
£
%
*
¢
%
¢
s
*
ADVERTISEMENTS-

 

“MeTHopism’s GREAT Home ScHoo..”
©O-EDUCATIONAT

 

bee NO AAA insti rates &
NEWARK CONFERENCE,
HACKETTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

LOCATION—Among the hills of No taern New Jersey, fifty-four miles from
New York City. Delightful Scenery. Healthful Climate.

COURSES—Four Courses preparatory for the best Colleges. Two Courses
for Ladies leading to appropriate degrees. Thorou:h Courses i in Music, Art,
Elocution, Commercial Science, and $: enoyraphy.

EXPENSES -—For regular Courses only $255 a year. Special discount to
ministers, and when more than one attend from the same tamlly.

Attendance so large that early application for room is necessary.

Send for Catalogue. Rev. Wilbert P. Ferguson, D. D., Ph. D., Pres.
LOS Os PEGE DE LEE EEE LE DEE EEN

 

ADVERTISEMENTS.

© GES FOR FUELS *&

‘Call and see our exhibits of Gas
Appliances. Gas Heating Stoves,
Gas Radiators, Logs, English Fire
Grates and Fire Place Heaters
or Furnaces, at cost prices.

RANWAY GAS LIGHT C0.

S€ Ventral Avenue and Hamilton Streets, 3%
ee Rah was. Seok

E. M. SLATER,

* aa HOUSE: PAINTING,
PLAIN AND DECORATIVE

PAPER HANGING. *K

Dealer in Wall Papers, Paints, Oils,

Brushes, ete.

RAIWAY

*
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SLE SE LIE UE LE AN NINO
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fil Main st ie

2 Or
H. L. LAaMPHEAR,:
SAROINTECT AND BUILDER :

Plans and Specifications:
Furnished. :
Estimates Given st Short;
Notice. :

OFFICE 171 MAIN STREET, *
RAHWAY,N.J.-:
ESTABLISHED 1866. ®

> JOHN FARRELL:
= Dealer in Choice Groce ries:

* ana Provisions.
S TRA '

 

 

 

"COFFEE

AND SPICES. .-
Foreign and Domestic Fruit. *
: The famous Pride of Elgin Butter
* always on Hand. # -
* 125 GRAND STREET, RABWAY, N. J.

Ae OK
No Lag Gg GN Qh Mg GN GN GN Sah Qh Qh MQ UG ET EN A et a a te eb ene * TAN tags tas tags
LOAN NS ee a te tN a a eS ee AY Se

RRR ORM OMCORECHE OME EBSD OMECODE STROM MECHEORE
*

ADVERTISEMENTS. ¥

SAVE MONEY :

get your Groceries and Meat of «
J. M. BROOKFIELD, :
THE PEOPLE'S CASH GROCER aud BUTCHER. «

Fine Teas and Coffees, Pure Spices, «
Fine Butter a Specialty, Best °
Brands of Flour by the Sack or by «
the Barrel. .

CORNER GRAND. MONROE and BOND STS.

BIRKETT& @, xX:
Corner Store, Raliay, New Jersey.

CORNER MAIN AND CHERRY,
— Fo
FALL COODS NOW READY.

DRESS GOODS. ©
Plain Colors and Fancy Plaids. Black Serges, ~
Black Cashmereand Henriettas. *

SKIRTS. *

Just received a Complete Line of Ladies’ Black «
Sateen Skirts and Fancy Stripes. Prices range «
from $1.00 to $4.00. eo

Elegant Line of Men’s, Ladies’ and Children’s *
Underwear, Plain and Ribbed. s

«
LOR ELE ERE OE EE EOE E ee ee

P.M

 

Se SE a Me
*s,
a : vs : ee ronseenaencncnii
HENRY JANSEN,
ARTIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER,

MOORE'S STUDIO, 31 CHERRY STREET.

oJ Fine Photographs, Crayon Portraits, Family %
zs Groups, Outdoor Views, Developing and Finishing +
~ for Amateurs. %

ALL WORK GUARANTEED.

SP. HALIDAY,

=  Géntlemen’s Fine Furnishings and Hats,
* A Large and Carefully Selected Stock of Every- ¢
S thing Appertaining to Men’s Wear. *
18s MAIN STREET, “
RAHWAY, NJ. ¢

> EDWARD G. ABBOTT, :
: BOARDING AND LIYERY STABLES. &

« Coaches for Weddings and Funerals at Reason-

able Rates. Also Carting of All Kinds &
S Promptly Attended To. -
= 147 HAMILTON STR JET, RAHWAY, NJ

: EDWARD S. LETTS,

= ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR AT Lal, 2
* No, 27 Pine Street, N.Y. City

6 TELEPHONE No. 3980 CORTLANDT.

 

 

 

 

 

*
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ADVERTISEMENTS. &

THE

UNION COUNTY

BANK, ==.
RAHWAY, N.J.

CAPITAL, . . . .  . « «$50 000%
SURPLUS, . . . . - . .$25,000#

——

CN MEE © OL OY

‘ef

e:

Transacts General Banking Business.
ACCOUNTS SOLICITED.

&

ee

BANKING HOURS:
g Ay M, 10 3 P.M.

SaTurpays, 12 MM.

2
“
©
¢
©

Ko
EDWARD S. SAVAGE, President.
A.D. VALENTINE, V'e:-President.
EDWD. H. SHERWOOD, Cashier.

 

.. DIRECTORS. .’.
EDWARD S. SAVAGE, J. M. SILVERS,
M. D. VALENTINE. Wo. BLooneoon,
Wm. V. Mc KENZIE, JOHN H. LUFRBERY,
J. LESTER LAFoRGE.

Rs WO we we we,
 

ADVERTISEMENTS.

THE UPTOWN DRUG STORE,

Corner Grant and Oliver StS. Raliway, N. J. *
Robert Joyce, Prop.
Physicians Prescriptions Carefully *
Compounded. ;

 

   

 

FOUNDED 1856. a
* == M.J. BAKER, =H!
© ST. GEORGE'S and MAPLE AVENUES, RAHWAY, N.J. 5

Choice Groceries (Carefully Selected) at Popular «
Prices. Provisions of the Best Quality.
Fruits and Vegetables in their Season.

= FLOUR AND FEED A SPECIALTY.

w. A. corson, :
* PRACTICAL PAINTER. :

Dealer in Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Kalso-

 

 

mine, Wall-paper, Brushes, etc. «

© None but the Best Used, or For Sale. “
© 105 MAIN STREET, RAHWAY, N. J. ,
= Harp AND NaturAL Woop FInNisHER.

 

- LESLIE LUPTON, :
 HOUNSELOR AT LAS

EX(HANGE BUILDING.

gS NN IME ge gM IS Oh Bh TSS A Ew OR aS, ay ge
EE EE OE BONDE RED OK

 
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HEE EE OE EE OEE Ew

ADVERTISEMENTS.

ESTABLISHED 1869.

% WILLIAM HOWARD, *%
DEALER IN FANCY
—GROCHRILH S—
Fancy Canned Fruits and Vegetables a Specialty.

No. 53 Tevine Street, — RAWWAY, Syd.

Telephone 2F.

CITY LUMBER YARD.
——LUFBERY & AYRES,——
DEALERS IN

LUMBER, PINE, HEMLOCK
AND SPRUCE TIMBER.
Yellow Pine Flooring and Ceiling, Paling, Railing,
Fencing, Nails, ete.

 

ER ME SS BE OO OE SE Oh ok

&
€

¢

Rahway, N.d..

LEWIS W. BROWN, PH. G. :

 

— PRESCRIPTION DRUGGIST—
Irving and Cherry Sts,,

RA WA ord. ¢

WALLACH’S FINE CANDIES.
HOT AND COLD SODA.
Tel. 25A.

COMPLIMENTS OF
GRIES BROS.,

122 MAIN STREET.

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ome

LLL LEE LEE LEO E EEE ESS SSS
 

OREO

 

,

.
&
£
©
*

MONUMENTS
HEADSTONES

AND

CEMETERY WORK OF EVERY DESCRIPTION:

YEARS of experience and unexcelled facilities fox
manufacturing Monumental Work enable us te
please our patrons. Designs and estimates:
furnished on application. “

BOS

THOMAS JARDINE & SON. «

ESTABLISHED 1860 =
ST, George Avenue, near Grand Street, RAHWAY, N. f

WORKS: a Opposite Evergreen Cemetery, ELIZABETH, W. J.

 

B. A. VAIL. A : és C. D. WARD,

Judge Court of Common Pieas City Attorney.
and Orphans Court of Union bo,

VAIL & WARD,
COUNSELLORS AT LAWS

Cor. Irving and Cherry Sts, : .
RAR WAY Nog

OR ORE EE EOE SE EC)

    

  

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OSE EE EE I OE ee *
ADVERTISEMENTS.

   

 

HSTHhy *

combine in the highest degree ARTISTIC BEAUTY, a
MATCHLESS QUALITY, and a &

DURABILITY wreck tnsures.

A LIFETIME OF SERVICE.

ESTEY & SAX, Wawro ery.

 

 

AN EXPERIENCE of almost 14 years in

fitting glasses to the EYES. At the first *

HAVE symptons of failing ision, do nut fail to ©

IT ' visit our OPTICAL PARLORS. and tae «

: advant .ge of the facilities offered for the |.

WHAT 7? detection and correction of visual defects. *
Towmsend & Hayes, .:
OPTICAL SPHCIALISTS, e

886 BROAD STREET, NEWARK, N. J. =
Eye Glasses and Spectacles of Every Description. Pre- *
scription Work a Specialty. o

The Rahway Hand aud Steam Laundry, <=

12 LEWIS STREET, RAHWAY N. J:
A. TT. CRANE, JR.

All Shirts Ironed by Hand: either Domestic or %
Gloss Finish.

Lace Curtains a Specialty.
Special Attention to Family Work.

TAO. PiERoOnN,

COAL AND WOOD, :
Cor, Grand aud Whittier Sts, RAHWAY, N. J. :

 

Seah SRR. Rav fibe gle Ue caus GE a ae Ae tes ii, pane Qo “t. icleeiten “ota
LLL KEE OEE EE OO EO Ow EE Eee CE EME DOIG: Cay

 
* 146 MAIN STRET,

 

ADVERTISEMENTS.

 

> H.GELLNER. &

Confectionery and Ice-Cream Parlors
RAHWAY, N. J.

 

3 It always pays to Renovate, Clean or Dye Clothing.

Soiled or Partly Worn.

: STATEN ISLAND DYEING ESTABLISHMENT,

J.-D- BERNER & SON, AGT.,
Be STREET,

 

MAIN STREET LUMBER YARD AND PLANING MILL.

—B. FRANK THORNE,—
RAHWAY, N. fs

SILVER’ 'S PHAR MACY,

: COR. IRVING and GRAND STs., RAHWAY, N.J

3

SG Lae We te eh

EAR
*

ESTABLISHED 1852.
None but the Most Keliable Drugs Ever Sold.

 

TC. HAGAMAN,
GROCER AND BUTCHER,

— HAY AND REED:
RAHWAY, -— = N. J.

 

 

aT T. H. ROBERTS,

CHERRY STREET, RAHWAY, N. J.

Oil Heaters that anual Cake

BLS EEE ELE EE DLE LES DEDEDE

*

PO OOO OOO ONS LR LONEG gs

  
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