JBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRINCETON. N. J. PRESENTED BY JOm^ C. TMIS BX 8949 VnT 1917 ~ Centennial, Presbytery of Newton 1817 1917 CENTENNIAL An Adjourned Meeting, in the First Presbyterian Church Washington, N. J. The Historical Narrative, Histories of the Churches and other Data ^ JUN 21 1941 ROLL OF MINISTERS AND CHURCHES James deHart liriien Ik-lvidere First Josci)h D. Hillman Beattystown and Mansfield Second Edt^ar A. Hamilton Sussex Walter H. Stone, Ph. D Ikdvidere Second Xathaniel P. Cronse Stanlio])e John A\\ Hischoff Hamburg- and X(;rth Hardyston Samuel I>. Cooper, Ph. D Oxford First J. Scott Butt Bloomsbury W^illiam Johnston Sparta Clarence W. Rouse Newton J. Newton Armstrono-, D. I) Blairstovvn Daniel H. Rohrabauoh Stillwater Robert Robinson, W. D Asbury James W. Martyn, Ph. D Hackettstown James Moore Phillipsburo- Westminster John C. Lane Andover Jacob N. Wa,2^enhurst Washington Peter V. Mead Marksboro Wilbur A. W^agar Oxford Second Paul J. Strohauer Franklin James Fer^^uson Stewartsville Hut^h W' alker Greenwich Aui^ustus C. Kelloi^o- . . Delaware and Knowlton R. Spencer Youno^ Yellow Frame U'illiam C. Perez . . . ; Branch ville James Douo^herty Harmony Michael l^oth Alpha Mao^yar A. J. Fowlie Musconetconq- Valley A. N. Millison Beemerville 4 THE PK1^:SP>YTEUY OF XKW'I OX }^Hnisters without changes: Robert White, H. R. : Charles E. \'an Allen. D. D. : Samuel Carlile, T3. D. : H. R. : John R. Ed- mondson, H. R. ; William G. Westervelt; Elias B. England; Isaac H. Condit ; Edwin C. Holman : TohnC. Sharpe, D. D., EL. D.. Principal; Rich- ard H. Huo-hes; William B. Johnson; Otto R. W. Klose, S. S. in Presbytery of Eon^ Esland. Eoreig"n Missionaries : Oscar J. Hardin, Beirut, Syria ; Henry Munro Bruen, Taiku, Korea; Charles E. Phillips, Pyeng Yang^, Korea. Vacant Churches ; Great ^^leadows, Phillipsburo- Eirst, Eafayette. A\'antaoe Eirst. Officers of Presbytery and Centennial Committee Officers of Presbytery : AToderator Rev. William C. Perez Stated Clerk Rev. James Aloore Permanent Clerk .... Rev. Auo^ustus C. Kelloo^s: Centennial Committee : Rev. E H. Condit Chairman Rev. AV. C. Perez Secretary Rev. James Moore. Rev. J. W. Hartyn, Ph. !.). l\e\-. J. X. A\^aoenhurst. Elders ; \V. \V. Woodward Newton Theodore llnsman Bh^omsbury S. P. B)Owers AVashini>ton THK IMJKSI'.VTKltV OF XKWTOX .") MORNING SESSION Moderator Presiding 10.30 — Presbytery Constituted \\'ith Prayer Sinoin^:: — Xn. 345. "P)lest P)e the Tie That Binds" Formation of Roll Report of Committee on Arrans^ements Rev. J. X. W'ai^enlnirst Sinoinq- — Jubilee Hymn of Semi-Centen- nial Solo Miss Bess Johnston The Lord's Supper — Administered by Rev. Charles E. A^an Allen Sin^S^ing — X'o. 232, "In the Cross of Christ T Glor\" 1 1.30— Historical X^arrative. Miss ^[aro^aret Clyde Sino^in^- — X'^o. 117, "Our God, Our Help In A^es Past" 12.30 — Recess AFTERNOON SESSION Rev. I. H. Condit, Presiding 2.30 — Convene Sin^g^in.c^ — Ode used at Semi-Centennial 2.45 — Greetinos The Synod Presbytery of Xew Brunswick Presbvtery of Elizabeth fi TIIK PJiESJl^TEin' OF XKWTOX Presbytery of Morris and Orange Presl)yterv of Lehic^h Solo Miss I'ess Jolinston 345 — Address IVesident AlacCracken, Lafayette Cc^lleoe 4.1:; — Idle ]'resbA-ter\' and Education Dr. \\\ H. Vail 5.00— Recess EVENING SESSION Moderator Presiding 7.30- — Convene Singing' — Xo. 58(j "Come, Thon Fount of Every Blessing" Scripture Prayer Choir Offering — vSynodical Home Missions Choir Centennial Address Rev. J. Ross Stevenson, D. D. Singing — Xo. 464, "Rock of Ages" Committee on Resolutions Singing — X'^o. 304, "The Church's One Foundation" lienediction AX'ednesda}', 9 a. m. — Presbytery will convene for transaction of business. THE PRESBYTERY OF XK\\ TON 7 Semi-Centennial Hymns Used at Centennial Celebration Jl'lULEE HYMX (Written for, and suno- at, Semi-Centennial) Tune — Regent Square, Xo. 90 Hymnal. Come, thou gracious King of Glor}', In this hour of juhilee; Whilst we tell the grateful story Of past mercies wrought by Thee, lie thou present (be thou present), liid us now thy glory see. l*)OW thine ear, God of our Fathers, To our glowing songs of praise. Warming still as mem'ry gathers Grateful themes from other days ; Lord, we praise thee (Lord, we praise thee), Vov thy grace in b}'gone davs. Thanks that o'er these vales Thou'st planted Many a fair and fruitful vine : Glorious rain and sunshine granted. Hedged them round and called them Thine, (lathering from them (gathering from them) Clustering grapes and generous wine. May this vineyard ever flourish. May abundant fruits be given; Gracious Lord, these churches nourish, With the light and dew of Heaven ; Till in glory (till in glory), "Jubilee !" they shout in Heaven. —Rev. D. X. Tunkin, D. D. THE PRESBYT]<:KY of XKW J'OX ODE (AX'rittcn for, and simo- at. Semi-Centennial) Tune — Federal Street, Xo. 197 Hymnal. Welcome, O God, of sovereign grace. To celebrate Thy worthy praise ; \\'ith joy to bow before Thy throne, Thv mercies trace, Thv (goodness own. Thy servants of that early day From earthly scenes have passed away ; Each to his happy home above. Where all is peace and joy and love. TUit Thou hast called us in their stead To glory in our living Head, And with Thy people now to meet With jo}^ before the mercy-seat. Here in Thy house, sustained by Thee, On this, our joyful jubilee; We would, with one united voice. In Thy unchanging- love rejoice. C)h, what a pleasure thus to meet And bow before the mercy-seat. To pure devotion freely given, \\'ith hope of brighter joys in Heaven. —Rev. T. R. Condit. MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION PRESBYTERY OF NEWTON Washin^S^ton, X. J., Xovember 20th, 1917. The Presbytery of X'ewton met in the First P'resbyterian Church of Washington, at 10.30 A. ]\[. in accordance with its adjournment to cele- brate the looth anniversary of the organization of Presbytery. Presbytery was called to order and constituted with prayer by Rev. William C. Perez, the mod- erator. "l>lest l)e the Tie That Binds" was sung. llie Roll was formed and is as follows: MINISTERS Charles E. VaiiAlleii, D. D., James Moore, Edgar A, iianiilton, Wilbur A. Wagar. Walter H. Stone, Ph. D., Paul J. Strohauer, Joseph U. Hillman, James Ferguson, Isaac H. Condit. William C. Perez, John W. Bischoff, James Dougherty, Samuel B. Cooper. Ph. D., Albert J. Fowlie*, J. Scott Butt. D. D., John C. Sharpe, D. D., Clarence W. Rouse. Robert Robinson, B. D., J. Newton Armstrong, D. D., James W. Martyn, Ph. D., Daniel H. Rohrabaugh, Augustus C. Kellogg. 10 1111^: PRESr>YTERY OF XICWTOX Elders representincr respectively the churches named : Andover .lohii ^^^ Tlioiiipsoii Asbiiry John A. Hulsizer Beemerville Barrett A. VaiiAuken Beividere 2iid James Depue Bloom^burj Theodore Tiusinaii Branchville Irving X. Roe Hackettstown Wilberforce G. Sutphin Harmony Amzi ]\liller Marksborro \\illiam A. Kerr Miisconeteonfi- Valley Absalom Apgar Xewton ^^'illiam ^V. Woodward Oxford 1st Daniel 8. Spangenberg Oxford 2nd E. Henrv Ward Phillipsbnrg 1st Robert P/ Howell Phillipsburg. \A'estminster Floyd E. Dreisbach Stewartsville ^^-J. Cline Boyer Stillwater J. Hampton Roy Sussex John D. Simmons Washington. Frank P. McKinstry. M. 1). The Committee on Arrangements recommend- ed a program to be followed in the celebration. The recommendation was adopted and the pro- gram was observed as set forth in these minutes. An order was drawn on the treasurer for $225.00 in favor of the Centennial committee. Rev. Robert Robinson, B. D., Rev. Walter H. Stone, Ph. D., and Elder John W. Thompson were appointed a Committee on Resolutions. The following ministers, being present, were invited to sit as corresponding members. X'ame. Presbytery. George C. Pollock. D. D. St. Cloud Theron Brittain Hudson Baker Smith. D. D. Morris and Orange George S. M. Doremus Morris and Orange Mehran H. Looloian Morris and Orange Nelson B. Chester Newark August W. Sonne, D. I). New Brunswick THE P1{KSBVT1:KV of XEWTOX 11 Marshall Haniiigtoii Xew Biunswiek George H. Ingram Xew Briiiis\vick Herbert K. England Elizabeth Courtland P. Butler. D. D. Monmouth Horace D. Sassaman Lehigh James Robinson Lehigh J. Boss Stevenson, D. D. Baltimore The following- Elders, from churches without the bounds of the Presbytery named in each case, were heartily welcomed in their attendance at the Centennial celebration. Elias Vosseller Xew Brunswick Edmund Horton Elizabeth Thomas J. Arnold Jersey City William H. Vail. M. D. Xewark Prof. William 8. Hall Lehigh The sacrament of the Lord's supper, adminis- tered by Rev. Charles E. Van Allen, D. D., Mod- erator of Presbytery at semi-centennial, assisted by Elders — W. W. Woodward, W. G. Sutphin, J. H. Roy, W. A. Kerr, J. C. Boyer, Irving N. Roe, S. P. Bowsers and J. A. Hulsizer was then ob- served. Miss Margaret H. Clyde, daughter of the late John C. Clyde, D. D., read the "Historical Narra- tive." Presbytery now took recess for lunch. Closed with praver bv Rev. Georg-e C. Pollock, D. D. Presbytery reconvened at 2.30 P. M., Rev. Isaac H. Condit presiding. Opened Avith praver bv Rev. Baker Smith, -D. D. Rev. Xelson B. Chester, Moderator of Synod, Rev. Courtland P. Butler, Rev. George H. Ing- ram and Elder Thomas J. Arnold extended the greeting-s of the Synod of Xew Jersey. 12 THE PKESIJY'I'EKY OF XEWTOX Rev. G. H. Ino-ram, Rev. A. W. Sonne, D. D.. Rev. ■Marshall Harrini^ton and Elder Elias Yos- seller brought greetings from the Presbytery of Xew Brunswick. Rev. H. K. England and Elder Edmund Horton conveyed the greetings of the Presbytery of Elizabeth, while Rev. G. S. M. Doremus did the same for the Presbytery of Mor- ris and Orange and the Presbytery of Lehigh sent her greetings with Rev. James Robinson. President John H. ^lacCracken and Prof. A\^il- liam S. Hall brought the greetings of Lafayette College, and President MacCracken gave an ad- dress on "Christian Education." William H. Vail. M. D., delivered an address on "l)lair Academy, Its History and Its Relation to the Presbytery of Xewton." Time was ex- tended 15 minutes to hear Rev. Theron Brittain and Rev. George C. Pollock, U. D., who had both been present at the 50th anniversary. Recess was now taken for supper. Closed with prayer by Rev. Edgar A. Hamil- ton. Presbytery reconvened at 7.30 P. M., opened with ])ra}'er by the Moderator, who jjresided at this session. A letter was read from Rev. J. Wilbur Chap- man, D. D., Moderator of the General Assembly of the I'resbyterian church in the U. S. A., giving reasons and regrets for his inability to be present and extending his congratulations to Presbvterv. THE PKESIJVTEHY OF NEWTON 13 The letter was received and the stated clerk was directed to acknowledg^e the receipt of same. Rev. I. Alstyne Blauvelt, D. D., of Presbytery of Elizabeth, also sent a letter, which was read, ex- pressing his regret at his inability to be present, and letters from Rev. I. Manch Chambers, D. D., of Synod's delegation and Rev. Samuel Guy Snowden, Presbytery of New Brunswick, were received. After devotional services consisting of singing, reading the Scriptures and prayer, an ofifering was lifted for Synodical Home Missions, which amounted to $21.20. Rev. J. Ross Stevenson, D. D., L. L. D., Presi- dent of Princeton Theological Seminary, then de- livered the Centennial address on "The Gospel the Need of the World." The Committee on Resolutions reported re- commending as follows — 1. We recognize the ,good hand of God upon us this day, and call upon our souls and all that is within us to bless the Lord for all his mercy and loving kindness continued to our Presbytery dur- ing the one hundred years of its existence. 2. A\'e record our indebtedness to Miss ]\Iar- garet H. Clyde and express by a rising vote our hearty appreciation of the splendid resume of the history of the Presbytery she has given us. 3. We welcome with us the visiting brethren who have brought to us the greetings of the Synod of New Jersey, and the neighboring Pres- byteries formerly parts of Newton Presbytery, 14 THE PrJ<:SBYTEllV OF XEWTOX and make special mention of the splendid ad- dresses of President J. H. ]\IacCracken of Lafa- yette College, President J- Ross Stevenson, of Princeton Theological Seminary, and Elder W. H. Vail, M. D., of* Newark. 4. -We rejoice in the presence with ns, of Rev. Charles E. Van Allen, D. D., Rev. George C. Pol- lock, D. D., and Rev. Theron Brittain, Avho were present also at the semi-centennial. 5. A\ e gratefully record our appreciation of the organist and choir of the church, who have so ably led our service of song, and of the beauti- ful solos rendered by ]\Iiss Bess Johnson, 6. We extend, by a rising vote, our thanks to the Pastor and Session of the church, our hosts on this occasion, and especially to the ladies for their excellent and bountiful hospitality. 7. W^e register our unfaltering fealty to the faith and service which have characterized our Presbytery in the years gone by : and, as we enter upon our second century, in the name of our God we lift up our banners, and in humble reliance upon Him, pledge ourselves to engage with all our might in the larger duties awaiting us in this new day. The report was received and the resi^lutions were ado})ted. Presbytery then adjourned to meet for busi- ness \\'ednesday morning, Xov. 21st, at 9 o'clock. Closed with jjrayer and benediction by the ^Moderator. THK PKESinTEliV OF XKWTOX 1.') ABSTRACT OF THE ADDRESS OF Dr. Wm. H. Vail ]\Ir. Moderator, ^lembers of the Presbytery of X'ewton, and Friends : It is with unfeigned pleasure that I stand be- fore this assembly and attempt to portray before you, "The History of Blair Academy, its place, influence, and immediate connection with the Presbytery." This year marks the Centennial of Newton Presbytery. Next year Blair Academy will have rounded out her three score years and ten. Eighty-five years ago, Paulina, one mile from Blairstown, had a school. Mr. Blair, who was jealous for the good name and pjogress of Blairs- town, decided that it should have equal if not su- perior advantages to Paulina. He conceived the idea of starting a parochial school. So in 1848 there was erected upon land donated by Mr. Blair the starting point of Blair Academy, in the shape of a stone building, twenty-four feet by forty- eight, one story high. For some years it was called the Parochial School, and in a few years a wing was added at each end to the original build- ing. These wings have since been removed and the original building still graces the campus of the Academv and is known and used as the Mu- sic Hall. From its inception the school has been distinc- tively religious in character, but by no means sec- tarian. At first the school was under the direct charge and supervision of the Presbyterian Church of lUairstown. and afterward became the l(i THE PRESBYTEPvY OF XEWTOX property of the Presbytery of Newton, by a cer- tain Deed of Trust in 1870. Blair Academy has had nine principals, dur- ing- its seventy years existence, viz. : Isaiah AV. Condict. ^I. D., 1848 to 1849. Rev. James G. ^loore, 1849 ^^ 1852. Rev. J. Kirby Davis. 1852 to 1854. Mr. J. Henry Johnson, 1854 to 1861. Mr. Simmons S. Stevens, from 1861 to T873. In 1898 the Trustees called the Rev. John C. Sharpe, D. D., to take chars^e of the school, and he is still with us. The continued progress of the Academy under his extended and efficient leader- shi]) evidences the wisdom of the choice. In 1899 ^" additional story was placed upon Insley Hall, and the whole building most thor- oughly renovated. It was in this year that Mr, John I. Blair, the founder and benefactor of Blair Academy, passed from the scenes of his earthly labors to his reward, at the ripe age of ninety- seven w^ell rounded years : but his son, Mr. De- Witt Clinton pjlair, continued his benefactions with a most liberal hand, as has been in evidence almost yearly since his father's departure. In 1900 the front half of Recitation Hall was erected, at the expense of the school, at a cost of $35,000. In 1901 followed the beautiful and com- modious piazza for Insley Hall, the generous gift of y[r. DeWitt Clinton Blair. In 1902 was erected the addition to the Gymna- sium in which was installed the swimming pool, with the shower baths and lockers, again the gift of Mr. Blair. THE PUESBYTERY OF XE^VT()X 17 In 1904 Air. DeWitt C. Blair added the other half to Recitation Hall, which has since been called Clinton Hall in his honor. It is in this Hall that so many of the activities of the school center. This same 3^ear the name of the school was changed from Blair Presbyterial Academy to Blair Academy, in accordance with the recom- mendation of the Trustees and the sanction of the Presbytery : thus assuming a simple short uni- form name. At the same time the Academy has lost none of its religious characteristics. In 1912 came the erection of A\^est Hall, for the accommodation of the smaller boys, to the num- ber of 35 or 40. This building supplied the long felt need of being able to segregate the smaller students and providing better for their care under a special matron. The enlargement of the Campus, with the ath- letic field far to the west, and the increased num- ber of students necessitated the placing of the Gymnasium on the other side of the Campus, and to this end in 1914-15, Mr. D. C. Blair caused to be erected what proved to be his last gift to the Academy, the magnificent Gymnasium. It will be specifically remembered as his parting gift and will for many years serve the school in its dual capacity, for the exercises in connection with the gymnastic apparatus in one half, and the basket ball apartment on the other, while the lower story contains a most beautiful swimming pool, and the ample supply of lockers, and round the upper story circles the track, 15 laps making a mile. The acquisition of this spacious gymnasium re- leased the old gymnasium and that by the gener- osity of the Blairs was immediately transformed into a dormitorv for the Senior Class. 18 TTIK Prvi:SinTKKV OF XK\\ TOX In 1915 the Academy was changed into a school for boys only, after the fullest gonsideration by the Board of Trustees, with the approbation of Presbytery. The mere fact that better work can be accomplished with each sex by itself is suffi- cient argument for the change; as long as the Di- rectors continue to provide for the education of the daughters of the pastors of the Presbyter}^ in carefully selected schools. Having thus given a brief summary of the his- tory of Blair Academy, which we are proud to consider the peer of any preparatory school in the land, it only remains for us to say a word re- specting the "place, influence, and immediate connection that Blair Academy sustains with the Presbytery of Newton." The Academy should always occupy a most honored niche in the an- nals of the Presbytery ; the Presbytery should always cherish the interests of the Academy as second only to the spiritual interests of the mem- bers of their flocks. The interests of the Aca- demy and the Presbytery should and must be one and the same ; their influence cognate and insepa- rable : and their connection as immediate and in- timate as that of members of the familv circle it- self. jNIay both go hand in hand in the service of their common Lord and Master, helping to hasten the good time coming when ignorance and super- stition shall vanish from the land as vanish the mists of night before the Star of day; and His name shall be one and Plis praises one from the rivers to the end of the earth. Such is our prayer ever. THE PRESUVTRRV OF XEWTOX 11) HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Miss Margaret H. Clyde FOREWORD. To the many who have hel])cd in the prepara- tion of these historical sketches, the compiler ten- ders sincere thanks, l^o cover in brief space one hundred years of time, means to select sparingly from a wealth of material. If therefore many things of interest have been omitted, may the fault be attributed to the limitations of the print- ed page and not to the choice of the historian. If. on the other hand, personal allusions have been included which form no integral part of the Pres- bytery's history as a whole, it is because such al- lusions, by their very evanescence, would almost surely, if not recorded here, be forever lost to his- tory. The chief sources of information have been a manuscript prepared by the late Rev. Dr. John C. Clyde, representing the labor of years, the ad- dress of the Rev. Dr. David X. Junkin at the Semi-Centennial of the Presbytery, a few printed church histories, and the individual reports sent in from the several churches. To those whose duty it was to supply these latter and who made them so accurate and complete, the thanks of the Presbytery as well as of its histcM'ian are due. To Rev. \\m. C. Perez, whose untiring zeal in the gathering of statistics made these sketches possi- ble, belongs the credit of bringing the work to a successful conclusion. M. H. C. 20 THE PIJKSBYTEEY OF XEWTOX At the sessions of the Synod of New York and Xew Jersey, held in the city of New York in Oc- tober, 1 817, there was presented an application from the Presbytery of New Brunswick for a di- vision of that Presbytery. This resulted in the formation of a new Presbytery, formally consti- tuted November 18, 181 7, in the Mansfield Woodhouse church, now A^^ashinoton, including- as its territory the country bounded by a line runnino^ from the Delaware, at a point a little north of Lambertville, and sweeping in an irregu- lar circuit through the counties of Hunterdon, ^lorris and Sussex to the State of New York, and extending from this line to the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania. All the state of New Jersey north of this line, together with most of the county of Northampton and all that of Monroe in Pennsylvania was embraced in this territory, which was called Newton Presbytery. There were present at that first meeting of Newton Presbytery, one hundred years ago, the following ministers : John Boyd, David Barclay, Holloway A\\ Hunt, Joseph Campbell, Jacob Kirkpatrick, Joseph L. Shafer, Horace Galpin, Jacob R. Castner, and David Bishop. Rev. Mr. BoatI was chosen moderator, and the Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, clerk. The churches composing it were : Knowlton, Marksboro, Newton, Hackettstown, German Val- ley, Fox Hill, Lamington, Haskingridge, Bethle- hem, Kingwood, Alexandria, Greenwich, Har- mony. Oxford, Mansfield, Pleasant Grove, Flem- ington, Amwell First, and Amwell Second, in Xew Jersey. In Pennsvlvania, Easton, Lower Mt. Bethel, Upper :\[t. "llethel, and SmithfieM, twentv-four in all. THE PRESBYTERY OE XE\VTOX 21 Oct. i6, 1818, Amwell First United was organ- ized, also Scott's Mountain the sa'me year, and New Village in 1819. In 1821 the church of Al- len township was received from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and as there was no Presbytery occupying the territory between Allen township and the Conynham valley, the Presbytery of Xewton also took possession of that wide region. Stillwater First, originally Dutch Reformed, applied for admission to the Presbytery in 1822, and after being modified according to Presbyter- ian Government, was received in 1823. This church has the distinction of being the first to ])rovide a manse for its pastor. Clinton was organized June 20, and Strouds- burg in August of 1827; Stillwater Second in 1828. The latter was dissolved, however, in 1853, the location being unfortunate. Danville was or- ganized Nov. 3, 1831. In October, 1832, the Synod transferred to the Presbytery of Flizabethtown the congregation of Raskingridge and Lamington, for the greater convenience of those churches in attending Pres- bytery. Milford was organized March 25, 1833; Am- well, June 6, 1834; Belvidere, whose members had worshipped chiefly at Oxford, was organized November 25, 1834; Durham, March 23, 1836; and Musconetcong \^alle}', a colony from Mans- field, on June 13, 1837. In the same }ear following an act of the Gen- eral Assembly declaring certain synods not con- stituent parts of the FVesbyterian Church owing to irregularity in their organization, and direct- ing such churches as were regularh- organized to •I-2 THE PRESBYTERY OF XJ<:\YT(n' apply to the nearest Presbytery, the churches of Moscow and Caledonia, in the Synod of Genesee, were received and were for a time connected with Newton Presbytery. In 1839 the Presby- tery of Raritan was created, takin,^ away the church of Durham in Pennsylvania, and all the churches south of the Musconetcon^s: mountain. Durham, German Valley, and Fox Hill, w^ere, however, restored the next year. Blairstown obtained a o^rant for an organiza- tion with the condition that it be connected with Knowlton, of which chiefly it was a colony, and the organization w^as effected October 19, 1840. In 1843 by act of the General Assembly the churches of JNIauch Chunk, Beaver Meadow, Summit Hill, and Conyngham were detached and constituted with other churches into the Presby- tery of Luzerne. The history of these churches testifies to the activity of the old-time minister. For missionary zeal early showed itself in the Presbytery. Up to Nov. I St, 1835, there was no Presbyter- ian church in the great coal fields of Pennsylva- nia north of Pottsville. In 1833 Dr. David X. Junkin. then a student in the Seminary, offered to spend a vacation laboring in the vicinity of Mauch Chunk. His offer was not at that time accepted. But in 1835 a resident of Mauch Chunk, a 'blacksmith, becoming interested in the matter of personal religion, wrote to Dr. Gray of Easton for counsel. Their correspondence re- sulted in his coming to Easton to be received into church membership, and it was through his ef- forts upon returning to Mauch Chunk that a de- sire for a church organization there was aroused. A request was sent to Presbytery asking for the TUK PKKSBYTl'lKV OF XEWTOX 23 gospel and for a church organization. A commit- tee was appointed to go to ]^Iauch Chunk and, if the wa}' were clear, to organize there a church. Of this committee Dr. Junkin and elder Enoch Green of Easton arrived on the last day of Octo- jjer, 1835. held services that night, and on the next day, Xov. ist, organized a church of twenty- four members, ordaining three elders, of whom the earnest and consecrated blacksmith was one. On Dec. 6 Dr. Junkin again visited ^lauch Chunk, accompanied by his classmate. Rev. Rich- ard AX'ebster, and there administered the Lord's Supper — the first dispensed by Presbyterian hands in the Carbon coal fields. Mr. Webster immediately entered upon missionary labors there which ended only with his death on June 19. 1856. ]^Iany churches were organized by him, which can be claimed as the children of Xewton Presbytery, and which acknowledged allegiance to her until in 1843 they were absorbed into the newly-constituted Presbytery of I^uzerne. August 8, 1848, a second Presbyterian church was organized in Easton, This, however, was dissolved at its own request in 185 1, its members joining either the Dutch Reformed, the First Presbyterian, or the newly-organized Brainerd church of that city. Belvidere Second was organ- ized August 29, 1849; Stewartsville, a colony from Greenwich. May 29, 1850: and Catasauqua on the /th of the same month. In 185 1, by act of the Assembly, the territory of the Presbytery was diminished by the exten- sion of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, to include all churches west of the Delaware and south of Martin's Creek. This was in order to 24 THK mESBYTKUY OF XEWT( )X place Lafayette College, which had been taken under the ecclesiastical control of the Synod of Philadelphia, within the limits of that Synod. The First Church of Phillipsburo- w-as organ- ized. Dec. 13, 1853: ^Mansfield Second, Alay i, 1855; Lafayette, 1856. Pleasant Grove entered the Roll of Presbytery with name of pastor H. W. H'unt, from the Presbytery of Raritan, Octo- ber 22, 1857. October 29 of the same year the church at Bloomsbury was organized. April, 1858, Andover petitioned Presbytery for oro^anization, w^hich was granted. Asbury was organized Oct. 10, i860: Oxford Second, May 8, 1863. On Xovember 19 and 20, 1867, the Presbytery celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Rev. D. X. Junkin, D. D., at this time delivered his historical discourse from which quotations have been made from time to time in this present paper. The same year Yellow Frame and ]\Iarksboro sepa- rated into two charges. 1866-1869 was a time of stringent financial conditions, yet the Presbytery had a wonderful increase in Foreign and Home Mission contributions. In 1868 one pastor re- ])orts every male member in the village as at- tending prayer-meeting and leading in prayer. In 1868 Upper Mt. l>ethel was located at Wil- liamsburgh. Pa. Oct. 5, 1869, a petition was granted for a church at Montana. It appears on the roll of Presbytery April 12, 1870. Tlie same year there was a church or mission at Allamuchy connected with the Andover field. At this time the questi(~)n of re-union between the C)ld and Xew Schools was being discussed. Dr. Junkin says: 'Tn the great doctrinal struggle THE PRESBYTERY OF XE\YTON 25 of 1834-8, this Presbytery bore itself with marked decision, wisdom, and firmness. When the prac- tical division of the church, upon a doctrinal ba- sis, was be.g^un by the General Assembly of 1832, creating- a Presbytery on the principle, not of g-eographical extent, but of "elective affinity," this Presbytery, in April, 1834, denied their con- stitutional rio^ht to create such Presbyteries, and sustained the Synod of Philadelphia for dissolv- ino^ the Presbytery thus erected ; and from that time forth the Presbyter}- of Newton steadily ad- vocated and sustained the measures of reform adopted by the Old School. She and the Presby- tery of Susquehanna were the only Presbyteries in the Synod that did not hesitate and it is believed that the happiest results fol- lowed the firmness and faithfulness of this Pres- bytery From first to last this Presbytery marched in the van of reform: and to her honor be it recorded that, at the close of her fiftieth 3^ear, she expressed an unwillingness to surrender at discretion all the fruits of her oreat struggles for truth and order ; but, whilst ex- pressing a love of Christian union, expressed a wish that that union might be secured under clearer guarantees than those proposed, so that truth and order might not be sacrificed at the shrine of union." In the minutes of the Presbytery we find in 1867 this report of the committee on Re-union : Resolved I — That the Presbytery regards the organic union of the Old and New School bodies of the Presbyterian church as eminently desirable and that no questions of minor importance should prevent it. 26 THE PllESRYTEKY OE XEWTOX Resolved II — That while we note with grati- tude the works of God's providence in the conclu- sions of the Joint Committee of the two bodies, yet we would desire, if possible, somewhat more explicit statements as to the doctrinal basis, con- trol of the Theolo.s:ical Seminaries, and in re,gard to the churches not thorouo^hly Presbyterian in their. oro^anization." In 1868 we find that the basis for re-union was defeated, the following resolution being recorded : "That this Presbytery, having disapproved of the basis of re-union, express its willingness and de- sire to unite with the New School church on the basis of our common standards, viz. : The West- minster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms." The crux of the matter was our Presbytery's insisting on adoption of the Old School Confes- sion of Faith and Catechism without explanation. Finally, however, on October 6. 1869, the re- union was approved. April 12, 1870, a committee was appointed to visit Bangor, Pa., with a view to organizing there a church. The church was organized June 14 by order of the Presbytery. April 13 of the same year, Rev. E. Clark Cline was elected Stated Clerk, a position destined to be filled by him with distinction for forty-six fruitful years. As a result of the adoption of the Basis of Un- ion it now became necessary to reconstruct the Presbyteries subscribing to it. .\ccordingly we find the following record: — **By direction of the Synod of New Jersey, the members of the recon- structed Presbytery of Newton met in the West- minster Church in this citv (Elizabeth, fune 22, THK PUKSinTKUV OF XKWTOX 27 1870) to oro^anize and to choose a place and time for the next stated meeting:.'' As directed by Synod, meetin": at Elizabeth, June 22, 1870, the reconstructed Presbytery met in Xewton, October 3, 1870, when the process of re-oro^anization was formally and finally sealed. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Sylvester Cooke, of \Vanta.2:e First. We have the follow- ing- record of action taken at this time, namely, the adoption of this minute: "That there be a statement setting- forth in historical order and in detail the ecclesiastical changes which have re- cently taken place and which have resulted in the constituting of the Presbytery of Newton as it is now exists, with the Acts of the General Assem- bly and Synod of New Jersey, under the opera- tion of which these changes have taken place." This statement follows: "In virtue of the Basis of Union adopted by the Assemblies sitting in New York in May, 1869, and sent down to the Presbyteries, and declared by the Assemblies sit- ting in Pittsburg in November, 1869, to be of binding force. 1. The Second Presbyterian Church of Belvi- dere, formerly in connection with the Presbytery of Philadelphia Fourth, and at that time without a pastor, and the other churches now composing this Presbytery, become ecclesiastically connect- ed and by action of the General Assembly of 1870, constituting the Synod of Xew Jersey, this con- nection become more immediate and direct. 2. In virtue of the following action of the Gen- eral Assembly of 1870 included in the enabling act, viz. : . . The Synod of X'ew^ Jersey is here- by constituted, to consist of the Presbyteries and 28 THE PRESBYTERY OF XEAVTOX parts of Presbyteries included within the State of Xew Jersey " The foUowino- churches and ministers were thereby separated from Xewton Presbytery by being- situated in Pennsylvania : Stroudsburg, Middle Smithfield, Shawnee, Lower ^It. F)ethel, Upper Mt. Bethel, P)angor ; Rev. Lyman Cole- man, 'D. D., Rev. John J. Carrell, Rev. Edwin Town, Rev. Robert F. Foresman, Rev. J. Kirby Davis, Rev. Wm. H. Dinsmore, Rev. Chas. E. Van Allen, Rev. Wm. B. Darrach. In virtue of the action of the Synod of New- Jersey, convened in Elizabeth, N. J., June. 1870, that "The Presbytery of Newton to comprise the counties of Sussex and Warren, with that part of Hunterdon lying north of the ?^Iusconetcong Mountain, and to be the legal successor of the Presbytery of Newton," the church at Pleasant Grove in Morris County, with its pastor. Rev. ^L A. Depue. was separated. The following minis- ters and churches in Hunterdon County were in- cluded : Rev. H. Brown Scott, Bloomsbury, and Rev. John B. Kugler, 'Musconetcong \^alley. The following ministers and churches in the county of Sussex were included : Rev. Joel Camp- bell, Rev. Sylvester Cooke, Rev. Andrew Tully, Rev. James Mc Williams, Rev. Alanson A. Flaines, Rev. Peres B. Bonney ; Wantage I, Wantage H (now Pjeemersville), Deckertown (now Sussex), Hardyston (N. Hardyston and Hamburg), Lafayette, Branchville, Stanhope, vSparta. Also Rev. John J. Crane, formerl}^ of the Presbytery of Lyons, but now a stated supply of the church at vStanhope. These with the minis- ters and churches of Sussex and \\'arren Conn- THE PHKSBYTFTvY OF XEW'IOX 29 ties formerly belonging- to the Presbytery of Xewton form the following Roll of the recon- structed Presbytery : llev. Aaron H. Hand Greenwicli Rev. Thaniel B. Condit Stillwater and Swartswood Rev. Frederick Kniuhton, D.J) Oxford I'irst Rev. David Tully Belvidere First Rev. Thomas McCanley Hackettst(Avn Rev. E. Clarke Cline Oxford Second Rev. Henry B. Townsend Pliillipsbiir^^ Rev. Theodore L. Byington Xewton Rev. William C. Stitt Yellow Frame Rev. Thomas A. Sanson Blairstt)wn Jiev. William Laurie Stewartsvilie Rev. Joseph H. Doremus Mansfield Second Rev. Joseph H. Thyne Marksboro Rev. Peter H. Brooks Knowlton and Hope Rev. Frank E. Miller Asbury Rev. H. Brown Scott Bloomsbury Rev. .John B. Kugler Musconetcong Yalley Rev. Peres B. Bonney Branchville Rev. Sylvester Cooke AYantage First Pvev. Andrew Tiilly Wantage Second (Beemerville) Rev. James McWilliams. S. S. Deckertown Rev. Alanson A. Haitiess. S. S. __Hardyston (X'^orth Hardy- ston and Hamburg) Pvev. .Toel Cam])bell. S. S Lafayette Rev. Jri- tain also about this time by religious persecution drove from her boundaries a large number of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. These met and mingled upon the shores of a new continent, and just as streams of water fol- low the lines of least resistance, so they followed as their course the natural waterways, the Dela- ware, the Musconetcong, the Pohatcong, the Lo- patcong, the Pequest, Paulin's Kill, and the Wal- kill, until we find them settled in the Minnesink country, along with the Holland Dutch, who had travelled down the Hudson, and many other na- tionalities. Thus out of the mingled blood of French, Scotch-Irish. English, German, and Hol- land Dutch, was formed the population of that early day. How copper was early discovered near the Delaware Water Gap and carried over "The Old Mine Road," which extended as far as Kingston on the Hudson ; how a surveying party of the :u T II E PI { !•: s in" T K\[\ () F X !•: w rox Penns, as early as 1730, found grown fruit trees and other evidences of lonjs^ settlement on the Shawnee flats ; how the same party encountered there an old Indian who put his hand upon the surveyor's shoulder and in an admonitory tone said: "Put up your iron string-. Go home." How the Proprietary Land Office was closed from T 718. .to 1732 owing to the minority of Richard and Thomas Penn, thus causing much inconveni- ence to the early settlers in procuring deeds to their land ; how in spite of this one company of Scotch-Irish established themselves in the Forks of the Delaware as early as 1728 in the bounds of what is now Allen and East Allen townships, Northampton Co. ; how another, a year or two later, formed in Lower Mt. Bethel what was known as Forks North or Hunter's Settlement, to distinguish it from the aforementioned Forks West or Craig's Settlement : how the Moravians commenced their work at Bethlehem and Naza- reth : how the Pennsylvania Germans came into the country ; these are matters of civil rather than of ecclesiastical history. So too is the famous — or infamous — Walking Purchase, by whose terms the white man obtain- ed from the Indian the valuable land along the Delaware from the Neshaminy on the south to the foot hills of the Poconos on the north, and by whose fraudulence he incurred the undying ha- tred of the red man, resulting in a series of mas- sacres and contributing to the I^^rench and In- dian War. But with the coming of David Brainerd and his notable labors among white man and Indian alike, we tread once more the sure ground of re- li^rious if not of ecclesiastical historv. THK IMJKSin TKll^ OK XKV\ rOX 35 The religious life of that day owed much to David Brainerd, and it is interesting to recall that during his labors among the Indians his home near Afartin's Creek was within the limits of Xewton Presbytery as originally constituted. Of the churches organized at that time, the ear- liest record we have is this. In 1739, "there came before the Presbytery (of Xew Brunswick) a supplication for supplies of preaching, in Mr. Barber's neighborhood, near Musconnekunk" (Musconetcong River), From subsequent rec- .ords we learn that **Mr. Barber's neighborhood" was identical with parts of Old Mansfield and Greenwich. From 1739 on frecpjent mention is made of sup- plies being sent t(j Greenwich, Mansfield Wood- house, Durham, and other places. "Greenwich upon Delaware" was the district now occupied by Belvidere, Oxford, and part of Harmony. It was sometimes called "Upper Greenwich." Probably the first Presbyterian houses of wor- ship erected were at Greenwich and ?vlansfield Woodhouse, for David Brainerd in his diary men- tions having preached in Greenwich twice on Sabbath Dec. 9, 1744. And since we know that the original log church there was so far decayed in 1775 as to render another building necessary, we infer that it was in the first one that he preached in 1744. Mansfield Woodhouse must have been built about the same time. Mt. Bethel seems to have had a ])lace of worship as earlv as 1747- Among those sent to supply those early churches were Rev. Robert Cross, a native of Ire- land : Rev, John Cross, a Scotsman, settled at a 30 THE PRESBYTERY OF XE\VTOX place called "the mountains back of Newark," a co-laborer with Whitefield ; Rev. James Camp- bell, pastor of Tinicum ; Rev. Daniel Lawrence of Long- Island, who studied at Lo,g College and was settled in "The Forks" and Lower Mt. Beth- el ; and Rev. Azariah Horton, a native of Boston. The last named spent a fortnight at Smithfield preparing the Indians for the coming of David F)rainerd. He also preached the first English ser- mon in that section, in the little log church near Shawnee. Services there, as in other Dutch Re- formed churches, were usually conducted in Dutch, but as there were some Scotch and Eng- lish attendants it became customary to have occa- sional services in English. Out of these probably grew the organization of a Presbyterian church there in 1814, a record of wdiich we find in Eng- lish among the records of the Dutch Reformed church, wdiich were kept in Dutch. Later yir. Boyd, Mr. John Clark, Mr. James McCrea, and others are mentioned as supplies for the various churches. McCrea was a native of Ireland and was for a time stated supply at Mans- field and Greenwich. He was the father of Col. John McCrea of Albany and of Miss Jane Mc- Crea, whose murder by the Indians near Fort Ed- ward was one of the sensational incidents of the Revolution. Miss ^IcCrea, a beautiful girl, was engaged to a young Tory officer serving in Bur- goyne's army when it was near that place. A band of i)rowding Indians captured her and car- ried her prisoner on horseback towards Bur- goyne's army. They were followed and a shot meant for the Indians killed her. The Indians took her seal]) and escaped to Burgoyne's army where her lover recognized her hair. THE PRESBYTEPvY OF NEWTON 37 Conspicuous also in the Revolution was the Rev. John Roseb rough, pastor at Greenwich, Ox- ford, and :\Iansfield, and later at the Irish Settle- ment and Hunter's Settlement. He was born in Scotland or the north of Ireland in 1714, was graduated at Princeton College in 1761, was aided in his preparation for the sacred office out of a fund provided to assist poor, pious, promising Calvinistic young men, was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Xew Brunswick and licensed by them to preach the gospel in 1763. On Dec. II, 1764, he was ordained in the old Greenwich log^ church near Silver Hill. At "The Forks'" he gathered a battalion from among his parishioners and led them as their colonel to Washington's camp at Coryell's ferry, there to relinquish his command to a military man while he remained their chaplain. His bat- talion figured in the battle of Trenton and a few days later he was surprised in a farmhouse near Pennington and there stabbed to death by a band of British stragglers. When the British entered Xew York, all the prominent Whigs were compelled to flee, among them being Rev. Joseph Treat, who came to Lower Mt. Bethel, which church he served in connection with Greenwich. He later moved to Bloomsbury, where he died. His grave, unmark- ed, is in the Greenwich cemetery. In the early days population was meager and land easy to obtain. At Sparta, we read, in 1738 there were probably not more than five or six hundred inhabitants in all that section of the state. Sussex County was formed in 1753, with Xewton as one of its four townships. Wantage 3S TIIK PlJESHY'rERV OF XKWTOX was set off in 1754, and Hardyston, from which the church was named, in 1762. Probably about 1756 Robert O^den established there his family residence between Sparta and Ogdensburg, surrounded by several thousand acres of land, which father and sons cultivated. There, it seems, the first Presbyterian services of that wdiole region were held. The proprietaries, wishing to encourage religion, gave a glebe of sixty-five acres to the prospective church organi- zation. In Hardwick township, erected about 1713, there were two places of Presbyterian worship, Lower Hardwick or Hackettstown, and Upper Hardwick or Yellow Frame. We read: "In this township, about half a mile from Dark Aloon Tavern is an old burying ground, from which the original forest trees had not been removed. Here, surrounded by woods on all sides, stood a log meeting house belonging to the Hardwick Pres- byterian. Church. They built a new church in what was then known as Shaw's Lane. This church has since been known as the Yellow Frame Church, and the northeast corner of it is a corner of Sussex and Warren counties in the di- vision of 1824." Here on Nov. 7, 1787, Rev. Mr. Condit was or- dained and installed at a service at which Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon presided, preached the sermon and delivered the charge to the pastor. Here too. Rev. Francis Peppard, a former pas- tor, returned to die and is buried in the Yellow Frame" cemetery. THE PKESBYTEKV i)V XK^^ "JC^X 30 As for Lower Hardwick or Hackettstown, it was previously known as the "Presbyterian con- greo^ation at Musconetcong, near Thomas Helmes' ]\Iills." As near as can be ascertained people began to settle there about 1720. There was a religious organization prior to the obtain- ing of real estate for church purposes. They had a rude log church upon the site of the present Sabbath School room. Here the people met for religious work and worship until they felt able to purchase the ground on which the church stood. The deed for the purchase bears date March 8, 1764. The grantor was Obadiah Ayers. The persons to whom the property was deeded were a "Committee chosen by the majority of the votes of the Presbyterian congregation at ^lusconet- cong, near Thomas Helmes' Mills." The consi- deration was "five shillings, proclamation mo- ney." Some of the conditions of the deed were that the trust was to be held for: "Presbyterians who do or shall hold and continue to hold the system of doctrine contained in the Westminster Confes- sion of Faith and Directory, agreeably to the present interpretation of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, to which they are now united." At W^ashington or Mansfield Woodhouse there seems to have been a church building of logs erected sometime between 1739 and 1744 on the site of the old graveyard adjoining the Washing- ton cemetery, on the south slope of the ridge which separates the Pohatcong and the Musco- netcong valley. The place was known as "Mr. I'arber's" until 1754 when Mansfield township was set off from Greenwich and the church took 40 THE PRESBYTEliY OF XEWTOX the name of ^lansfield \\'oodhouse, probably be- cause there was a woodhouse at or near where tlie church was located. The deed for the property was made Oct. 29, 1765: the g-rantors were John Bowlby and Mary his wife; the consideration was "Five shillings, proclamation money :" the persons to whom the prop'erty was conveyed were the "elders and the rest of the English Presbyterian congregation of ^Mansfield Woodhouse." Along with the metes and bounds of the property specifically given, it is said: "It being the said piece of ground where the old Logg Meeting House was and the bury- ing ground now is." First Wantage although one of the oldest churches in Sussex County, did not take shape as early as the churches farther south, due probably to geograph-ical conditions. For First Wantage was located' well up the Clove, whose nearest in- habitants were people living in the Minisink country, over the Kittatiny mountains to the north. Prior to 1728 there were probably no settlers in the Wantage neighborhood. About 1734, how- ever, Peter Decker came over the mountain from the Xeversink and located at Deckertown. By 1754 there were a sufficient number of people there to call for the erection of a new township. The township of Wantage was accordingly set off from Newton in that year, and the church took the name of the township. Originally there were four Dutch churches north of the mountain. Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten, who ministered to three of them, gave his atten- tion also to the needs of the people on the south THE rRESP.YTERY OE XE^VTOX 41 side of the mountain, his efforts resulting in the organization of First Wantage by the Classis of New Brunswick of the Dutch Church on August 2y. 1787. Stillwater also came from Dutch or German antecedents. Tracts of land being surveyed and opened for settlement on the Paulin's Kill, one of these was purchased in 1740 from the original owner in. Philadelphia by John Bernhardt and his son-in-law, Casper Shafer, who, as the easiest way of reaching their possessions, journeyed up the valleys of the Delaware and Paulin's Kill and settled at Stillwater. John Bernhardt set apart a piece of ground as a site for a church and grave- yard. Curiously, he himself was the first to be buried there, thus dedicating the place to its des- tined use by his remains, in 1748. The early religious elements of the community seem to have been German Reformed and Lu- theran, called specifically, German Lutheran and German Calvinists. A church building was com- pleted in 1 77 1 and we find that on Jan. 10, 1783, a number of persons signed articles of faith under the name of the Reformed Association of Hard- wick. In the church building above referred to, was organized June 13, 1823, by a Committee of Xewton Presbytery the Stillwater Presbyterian Church, application having been previously made to the Classis of Xew I'runswick for dismissal from that body. Social and political conditions were interesting in those days. At the first meeting of the trus- tees at Hardyston, we find that "the said trus- tees" took "their oaths of allegiance and abjura- tion and also an oath for the faithful performance 42 TITK PUKSr.VI'ERV OF XKWTOX of their duty agreeable to the directions of the act of the Legislature of this State passed the tenth day of March, 1786." This was the first corpora- tion under the law referred to, as the records of the Clerk of the Court of Sussex County show. Oxford became incorporated one year later, May 8, 1787. There, too, we find the "oaths of abjuration, alleg'iance, and office." Thus we see that in those days trustees abjured their alle- giance to Great Britain, swore allegiance to the United States, and then bound themselves by oath to be faithful, in the trust committed to them. "In 1801, March 9," we read, "the first turnpike in New Jersey was authorized by the Legislature, from Elizabethtown through Morristown to Mil- ford, by way of Newton and Culver's Gap to the Delaware. About the time of the Revolution there were very few, if any, wagon roads. * ''' '" ^' '•' '•' One preacher had to suffice for three or four congregations, ten, twenty, or even more miles apart." Nor were conditions of worship easy. In Hack- ettstown a pit was bricked up in the middle of the audience room and a charcoal fire maintained. As there was no chimney to carry off the gas, it was not an uncommon thing for members of the congregation to be carried out in a state of semi- asphyxiation. At Newton there were no means of heating the building, and the minister in cold weather served the people, it is said, sometimes with his mittens on. A stipulation in the contract for building was that the congregation engage themselves to furnish a barrel of whiskey for the use of the workmen. TIIK PRKSliVTERV OF XKWTOX 4:3 At Danville a carpenter's bench served as a pulpit for about six years. In Knowlton, just as in the Dutch chtirches in the Minisink country, our earliest records have come to us through an old book. This book con- tains a list of more than six hundred baptisms at Knowlton between Jan. 8, 1766, and Oct. 26, 1810. Here we have the names of the parents and spon- sors and usually of the minister who performed the rite. The record was kept almost exclusively in the German language. Rev. Uzal Ogden, an itinerant Episcopal minister, under date of July 8, 1 77 1, says he preached in Knowlton in a "con- venient building in cold weather, but in the open air in the summer." Rev. Ebenezer Grant reported to Presbytery in April, 1803, that "there is at this time no regular- ly organized congregation in the township of Xolton ; nor any house of worship exclusively be- longing to that denomination, -i^ =1= >k h^ * =h That the Episcopalians aided by the Presbyter- ians (who are still the most numerous, although in an unformed state) have many years since erected a stone church near the banks of the Delaware, in which the clergy and people of each denomination were reciprocally admitted. "^ * * That having preached here and in private houses to assemblies composed of different denomina- tions, he was pleased to see the number of hear- ers as great as could be expected considering the inclement season, the difficulty of spreading the information ; and to observe a respectful and ear- nest attention to the W^ord preached." In 1808, the old custom of leading the singing by a pre- centor or a few voices and the "lining out" of hymns was dispensed with. 44 THE PKKSBVTERV OF XKWTOX Of Harmony we read that "at the middle of the last century it was a more stirrino^ place than it is now. '^ " "^ There was a mail stage running from Easton to Newton on alternate days. * * '■' In the Simimer season a daily stage was run be- tween Easton and Belvidere to accommodate the Summer visitors, chiefly from Philadelphia, going to Pielvidere and the Water Gap " * '•' This was also the route for farmers from the upper part of the county to convey their grain to Eas- ton market. Long lines of teams went to and fro. ♦ =;^ =1= There was no agricultural machinery then, and the large and productive harvest season was almost a festive time among the prosperous farmers," Rev. Mr, Sloan, who became the first pastor, preached there as early as 1803, in barns, groves, and private houses. Mrs. Love, wife of the third pastor, was baptized by Mr. Sloan in a barn. Even Phillipsburg as late as 1851 was a strag- gling affair. "Along Main Street, with now and then a frame house, was an open field. On the back streets boys played ball in a fine apple or- chard. -■' ■■'- '■' One year later -•'- * * amid wild enthusiasm, and witnessed by hundreds of ])eople, the first passenger train, on the Central Railroad of Xew^ Jersey, July 5, 1852, wended its way to Xew York. " =•' '■' The old town was awakening. J^eople were weary of wandering now to the old (Greenwich Church, to Harmony, to Easton. " " '•' They wished a church of their own." Accordingly the First Church of Lhilli])sburg was organized. The changing value of currency is interesting to trace. In the davs succeeding the Revolution THE PKESBYTEKY OF XKWTOX 4r, "land sold for from one dollar to five dollars per acre, while through inflated currency a pair of boots cost six hundred dollars, seven yards of calico cost seven hundred fifty-two dollars, four handkerchiefs, four hundred dollars. Continental money." At Washington, or Mansfield W'oodhouse in 1791, the pews in the church were rented for fifty seven pounds, ten shillings, being about suffi- cient to pay the minister's salary of $250. In 1787 the old log church was found to need repairs. Hence we find the following record : "Agreed with Frederick Eveland to do the fol- lowing repairs (to wit) : Build a stone wall at the west end and paint the same, and put new sill and steps at the door, chunk and plaister the said house and white same inside and out, and also cut four larger* windows and fit the same with sashes and glass, and put them in and make and hang shutters for all the windows in said house, for which we agree to pay him eight pounds, ten shillings." At Greenwich in 1799 the pastor's salary was ninety pounds per annum. The sexton, however, hardly fared so well, for this year the congrega- tion resolved: "That the possessor of each pew- do pay to the person who is appointed to make fires in the church and take care of said church one bushel of buckwheat, or the value thereof, for the ensuing winter." Hackettstown was much more generous. Here the trustees voted an extra fifteen dollars a year to the sexton, to keep the dogs out of the church, and to sweep and sand the floor three times a vear. \Mien the call was extended to Rev. Peter 40 THE PKESIJYTKKY OF XE^^•TOX Wilson to serve them in conjunction with Mansfield Woodhouse, he was offered the sum of fifty-five pounds, the use of the parsonage, and a sufficient supply of firewood laid down at his door. When the church depended upon supplies they were paid after the following fashion. Each seat on either side of the pulpit was to pay two shil- lings ; each seat in front, one shilling, six pence; each square, two shillings, six pence. The aggre- gate was the amount the supply was to receive for each sermon. When the treasurer presented his report, he had received sixty-one pounds, two shillings, and five pence. Twenty-eight sermons had been preached for which two pounds each had been paid. The remainder had been used for inciden- tals, among which was eight shiHings for a half gallon of spirits for a vendue. In 1801 when repairs were made upon the church to the amount of $171.10, we find the first entries in dollars and cents instead of in pounds, shillings, and pence. In 1819 the old building- was sold and rebuilt as a barn near Beattystown. When the new church was built, the pews were sold to the highest bidder and deeds for the same executed. Prices ranged from $25 to $100 per pew, and the whole amount realized was $2330. At Xewton. during the pastorate of Rev. Hol- loway W. Hunt, when the church was in financial straits, an agreement was reached that he should take for his salary an assessment of seventy five pounds on the pews and whatever else he could secure by way of subscription. In 1801 there was a sale of pews, however, instead of leaving TUK VnV.^nXTVAW OF XEWrOX 47 them to be farmed out by the pastor, at which the president of the Board of Trustees bought pew "No. 8" and presented it to the pastor. By this time also the congregation was so far recu- perated financially as to be able to pay the sexton a salary of five dollars a year. That human nature was as human in the early days as now is evidenced by the following inci- dents. When ]\!r. Graham, later pastor at Ox- ford, presented a certificate stating that he was a candidate for the ministry under the care of the Mendon Association (Mass.) and in good stand- ing, the committee to whom the request was re- ferred reported : "That inasmuch as the certifi- cate presented by Mr. Graham does not state to what particular denomination of Christians he be- longs, while Presbytery do not see any particular reason to doubt the authenticity of the certificate, yet, as it is not sufi^iciently definite to be consi- dered regular according to our constitution and Form of Government ; therefore. Resolved, that Presbytery, while they do not feel disposed to prohibit the elders of the church of Oxford from making such arrangements as they shall deem for the interests of religion among them, do not feel prepared formally to grant the request of said congregation until proper certificate can be pro- duced." Mr. Graham is reputed to have been the originator of Graham flour. When in 1811 the pastor at Hardwick preached against the dancing school there and was conse- quently unseated, he then held services at Marks- boro and organized there a church known as The Second Presbyterian Church of Hardwick. Re- cognition of this church by Presbytery was 48 THE PKESBYTERY OF XE^YTON strenuously opposed bv the mother cliurch, so that it was not until after Presbytery at first re- fused recognition, then later appointed a day of fasting- and prayer and sent a committee to ad- vise with the people, that in 1814 this church at ^larksboro was at last organized. It was financial stress, no doubt, which led the Xew-ton church to resort to a lottery. This was known as the "Newton Princeton Lottery,'' as Princeton shared in the profits. That this was no unusual course is indicated by the fact that Washington also decided upon a lottery to raise the necessary funds for building its new church. We have the record that on May 26, 1792, the trustees signed a petition to the Legis- lature for the necessary authorization. In 181 1 the subject came before the General Assembly with the following: question: ''Are lot- teries, even for religious purposes such as build- ing churches, etc., consistent with the morality of the gospel?" The Assembly resolved, "That as an answer to this question at present would not be attended with edification, the Assembly de- cline giving a decision upon it." A comment upon the universal acceptance of gambling at that period. In 1819 "The Session of the church of Xewton referred the following case to Presbytery for ad- vice, viz. : A. B.. ruling elder in the church at Xewton has been accused before the session of said church of profanity, and in a certain degree found guilty. '•' '■' * The session asked the ad- vice of Presbytery in the case." How we should like to know whether the session only to a cer- tain degree found the brother guilty, or whether THE PRESBYTERY OF XE^VTOX 49 they found him i^uilty of a certain degree of pro- fanity, and if so, what the degrees of profanity are. * In 1821 elders from the ^Mansfield, Harmony and Oxford churches sent a memorial to Presby- tery, impugning the ministerial standing and con- duct of one of the ministers in that body. They charge him, among other things, with baptizing children of parents within the bounds of other congregations, and with ])reaching in the bounds of a neighboring congregation without due au- thority. How strictly bounded parishes must have been in that day. In Hackettstown, as in other places, there ex- isted such prejudice against the colored race that it was only after much consultation and misgiv- ing that it was decided to allow the burial of col- ored persons in the lower part of the graveyard. Education has never been neglected in the Presbytery, as the paper given to-day on educa- tion will testify. C3n August 8, 1849, it was re- ported to Presbytery that it was contemplated to establish a Parochial School within the bounds of the Oxford congregation. Presbytery thereupon recommended the congregation to the Board of Education for the sum of $75 to be applied to the support of teachers and for $100 toward the erec- tion of a school building. In 1857 there were parochial schools at German Valley and Upper Mt. Bethel, as well as at New- ton and Blairstown. Miss Anna Condit, daugh- ter of Rev. T. B. Condit, who was for a time a teacher in India, became later a jjarochial teacher at her home in Stillwater. 50 THE rRESJJVTERY OF XEWTOX At the formation of Newton Presbytery one- half of a fund that had been left for educational purposes to the mother Presbytery of New Brunswick was given to this Presbytery, and this together with funds raised from churches she employed in supporting needy candidates. This fund in 1835 was contributed as a permanent scholarship of the Presbytery to Lafayette Col- lege. In the year 1868 resolutions are recorded on John I. Blair's offer to rebuild Blair Academy. May 4. 1869, ^Ir. John I. Blair, at a meeting of Presbytery, intimated his intention of transfer- ring Blairstow^n Academy to a Board of Trustees of Presbytery. Presbytery accepted his offer and appointed the Board. Presbytery also recom- mended that all people and churches who could "furnish rooms as soon as required with all suit- able furniture and bedding:" By action of Pres- bytery, the institution was called "Blair Presby- terial Academy." From this time on there are many records of Mr. Blair's generosity toward the institution. By the will of James Goodw^in, dated 1852, pro- bated 1857, Presbytery was bequeathed a fund to be used for Foreign or Domestic Missions, as Presbytery deemed fit. But since the work at Al- pha has been under the Presbytery's care, the benefit of the Goodwin fund has gone there. While the fund is small — about $3,000 — yet in the days of its bequest it had a value double that of our day. It shows the spirit and vision of mis- sions and missionary zeal. Harmony and Ox- ford First were beneficiaries in the same will, and upon their ceasing to be Presbyterian churches the Presbytery comes into possession of their shares in the Goodwin bequest. THK i>in<:s]iVTKrvV of xewtox :a In igoo, under the provisions of the will of yir. Henry W. Merriam, his home at IMain Street and Maple Avenue, Newton, came into possession of the Board of Ministerial Relief, to be used as a Home for disabled ministers. Thereupon the old Westminster House at P^erth Amboy was aban- doned and all residents in the Perth Amboy Home were transferred to the Merriam Home. The residence includes about four acres of land and a couple of cottages, a green house and sta- ble, with all the appurtenances including the household furniture, pictures, plate, books, orna- ments, etc. Mr. Merriam was very much inter- ested in the work of Ministerial Relief and he showed his interest in this manner, and in addi- tion put at the disposal of the Board as a perma- nent fund, $30,000, the interest of which is used to keep the property in good repair, and if there is any money left at the end of the year, it may be used for the maintenance of the Home. The influence of Xewton Presbytery is and will be felt far beyond her own borders for ever since the earlv labors of Mr. Webster and Dr. Junkin in the coal fields she has sent out laborers into other parts of the country, even into foreign lands. Notable among these are the following : From Belvidere L, Rev. Henry M. Bruen, to Ko- rea ; From Belvidere Second : James \V. Hawke, a missionary in Persia ; Theodore L. Byington, missionary in Bulgaria and Constantinople. From Bloomsbury : Mrs. James A'anDyke (nee Miss Mary Gardner) to Siam ; Rev. Clearfield Parks into the ministry; Mr. John Dalrymplc, Army Y. M. C. A. Secretary. From Hackettstown : Rev. Thomas McAuley Simanton, pastor at Chester, o2 THE rRESBYTEKY OF XEWTOX X. Y. ; Rev. Warren R. \\'ard. pastor Westmin- ster Church, Philadelphia. From Harmony : Rev. Samuel Galloway : Rev. E. Clarke Cline ; Rev. John Harold Davison, mis- sionary to Japan in the M. E. Church. His sister is the wife of Rev. Dr. Julius Soper, of the M. E. ^fission, Aoyama, Japan : Rev. Thomas T. ]\Iutchler, president of the International Federa- tion of Sunday Rest Associations of America ; Wm. Cline, who cut off his colle^^e course to en- ter the ministry ; Rev. Joseph Howell of Easton, Pa., a grandson of the church. From Lafayette : Rev. James N'orthrup, once an attendant at the church. From ^lusconetcong \'alley : Rev. Williard Stires, Xelsonville, Ohio ; Rev. Tillman Rush. From Oxford H ; Miss Car- rie Lanterman, missionary to Japan; Miss Ellen Scranton. From Sparta: Rev. HoUoway Hunt, 39 years pastor at Schooley's Mountain ; Rev. Holloway Hunt, his cousin, Centerville, X. Y. ; Rev. Z. X". F>radbury, Pulteney, X. Y. From Wantage I : ]\Irs. Stacey L. Roberts (nee Evelyn Millen), Ko- rea. From Xewton : Rev. Edward H. Byington : Rev. Oscar Hardin, ?)eirut, Syria ; Rev. Robert Spencer Young. hYom YelloAv Frame: Rev. Caspar Shafer, yi. D.; Rev. Archibald S. Shafer: Rev. J. D. Decker; Rev. John Van Xess. From Stillwater : Rev. Isaac H. Condit ; Aliss Anna Condit, missionary to India, later parochial teacher in Stillwater ; From Asbur\-: Rev. F. P. Hiner; Rev. H. L. liowlbv, D.I).' TllK IMJKSl'.VrinfV Ol' XKWTOX .38 Lollop and worthy has been the record of this Presbytery; great is the opportunity before it. In these troubled times it seems pecuHarly fit- ting to recall the courage, the constancy, the con- secration, which have made history from the ear- liest pioneer to the patriot of today. And if "these all," "obtained a good report through faith," is it not equally true that God has "pro- vided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect?" ALPHA. Oil Xovember 5, 1906, the Magyar Evangelical Refoniieci Church of Alpha presented a petition, signed by 7(5 of its coinmiinicant members, all of them men, living at Alpha and its neighboring hamlet. Vulcanite, to be received under the care of the Presbytery, the petition giving as the reasons, the hope that union with the Presbyterian Church with its oversight and care would be greatly helpful to their spiritual life and promote their zeal and efi'iciency in the service of their Saviour, feeling as they do the need of such help, separated from the church of their Fatherland and their home, now in this country are brought so near the people of the Presbyterian polity and faith. The petition had been presented to the Committee of the Synod and referred by them to the Presbytery. The church was accordingly taken under the care of the Pres- bytery, Synod and Presbytery sharing equally to the amount of $250 towards its support for six months. A committee to organize the church reported on A})ril 9, 1907, that tlie church had been fully organized and incor- porated. The Alpha Portland Cement Company and the Vulcanite Portland Cement Company respectively contril)- uted $2o0 for the support of the church. For a number of years this latest born child of the Presbytery was helped by contributions and loans bur in April." 19lV), the church i)aid its final indebtedness to Pres- bytery and the title to the property was turned over to the Trustees of the Alpha Magyar Church. 04 TFIK Pin<:S]'>VTEl{V OK XKW'IOX The Elders are John Gubics, Louis Gubics, Stephen Kis, Alexander Konya, Joseph Madi, Julius Nagy, Charles Nemeth, James Palovics, John Remport, Louis Szabo, John Varga, Joseph Varga. The list of pastors is as follows: Rev. John Ujlaky, S. S., 1908-190!); Rev. Rudolph H. Ponipl. 1909-1910; Rev! Charles G. Dezsy, 1910-1917; Rev. Michael Toth, 1917- . ANDOVER. A petition for the organization of this church was presented on April 7, 1858, and the church was accordingly organized with nine members on certificate and three by profession of faith. Thirty-five additional names were recorded the following year. The following ruling elders were chosen: John S. Broderick, Jehiel T. Smith, John D. Reynolds, and Wm, F. Iliff. The church was erected and dedicated in the year 1858 upon grounds donated by Wm. F. Iliff. The structure con- sisted of brick, one story, and the second story of lumber, and the original cost was $3,000. A Sabbath School was promptly established. There has been no change in the location of either building, services, or Sabbath School, aiul the building has always been used exclusively by its own denomination. In 1873 a building was purchased to be used as a manse — price paid, $3,000, but on account of undesirable location, the property was soon disposed of, and a new manse erected in a more suitable place. During the pastorate of Rev. John Hancock 41 new members joined the church on profession of faith and two by letter. Rev. J. M. Huntting filled the pulpit for nine years, the longest period reached by any pastor. In 1895 Mr. Sylvester R. White bequeathed a building estimated at about $5,000. The present elders are: George Shotwell. Jolm W. Thompson, Andrew Dobin, Wm. S. Slater. The list of pastors is as follows: Rev. J. Sanford Smith. 1858-1862; Rev. Chas. Milne, 18(33-1865; Rev. A. S. Collins, (Supply) 1865-1865; Rev. R. B. Westbrook. (Sup- plv) 1865-1866 i Pvev. Mvron Barrett. (Supi)ly) 1867-1868; Rev. David C'onwav. (Stated Supply) 1868-1871: Rev. Kd- wnnl Weill), 1871-1873: Pvev. B. S. Foster. 1873-187(5: Mow Till': iMU':si;\'rKi{\' of xkw rox r^7^ John Hancock, (Supply) 1870-1877; Rev. Juliii F. Shaw, 1877-1881; Kev. E. L. Dodder. (Supply) 1881-1883; Rev. J. M. Huiittino, 1883-1893; Rev. H. P. McHeniy, 1893-1898; Rev. \\'. J. :\Iewhinney, 1898-1901; Rev. James rrovan, 1902-19U4; Rev. W. S. C. Webster. 190.5-1910; Rev. X. S. Recker. 1911-191.-); Rev. J. C. Lane, 1910. ASBURY. The. Asbury Cliurch wa.s a colony of the Musconetcong \'alley Church, a Sabbath School being conducted there, under the direction of the Valley church, and the pastor preaching there once a month. These services were held in Asbuiy Academy, erected al:out 18.")0 on land given by the Van Antwerp estate for school and church pur])oses. The property was held by the trustees of the \'alley church until an organized church sliould be established in Asbury. In 1860 the question of holding weekly services in Asbury was raised, but it being impossible to decide the (question in the church, the matter was referred to Pres- l)ytery with the result that, it was decided to organize a church in Asbury. This was done October 10. 1800. by a ((juimittee of Presbytery. Rev. (icorge C Bush. Chairman, with 28 charter members, 26 being received by letter from the Musconetcong Valley Church, and two from the church at Stewartsville. ^Messrs. AVilliam Creveling and Philip Mutchler, elders in the Valley Church, also Messrs. Isaac Bennett and Jolm B. Lunger, were orgained and installed the first elders. At this time the Academy ])assed into the hands of the new organization, the first Board of Trustees being Abraham N. Carjtenter. Wilson B. Hevener. Daniel Runkle and John A. Willever. The first ]Moderator of the session was Rev. A. H. Hand, 1). D., of Greenwich. Rev. James R. Eckard. D. D.. a pro- fessor in Lafayette College, served as stated supply from 1800 to 1867, when he asked to l)e permitted to resign owing to failing health. The sanie year Mr. Samuel Creveling donated a lot for the erection of a church building and there was also an opportunity to sell the Academy property to the township for public school ]mrposes. It was accordinglv sold for $1 .900. ;!<; THE l^l^l-:si5\Ti:i{V OF XKWTOX P'rom 1867 to 18G8 the church had temporary supplies, then Franklin E. Miller, a senior in Princeton * Seminary, was invited to supply the pulpit. The result was a call t») him to become the tirst pastor. He was ordained and in- stalled July 14, 1868. During the first year of his ministry the new church building, a brick structure, was completed at a cost of about $15,000, and dedicated in September. 18(59. The list of pastors is as follows: Ilex. Frank E. Miller 1868-1871 llev. David Conway 1871-1876 E,ev. George W. Tomson 1876-1885 Rev. D. M. Hazlett 1885-1886 Rev. Thornton A. Mills, Ph.D. 1887-1889 Rev. R. A. Bryant 1889-1896 Rev. Phineas B. Kennedy 1898-1900 Rev. F. L. Cornish 1901-1902 Rev. E. B. England, S. S. 1902-1905 P. 1905-1914 Rev. Robert Robinson 1915- During the pastorate of Mr. Tomson the church parson- age was erected at a cost of about $5,000. Payment of this was completed in 1882. and at this time Mr. Daniel Runkle purchased and donated to the church the two lots adjoining the ])ars()nage, thus completing the church lot. The present Session consists of Elders J. A. Hulsizer. T. A. Wolverton. J. B. Tigar, and ^Y. E. Hiner. The church has been hampered by the changing conditions of rural life. It attained its highest membership, 189, during Mr. Bry- ant's pastorate. The present membership is 109. The temporalities of the church have always had careful and efiicient management. Among others, "the late \Vm. Runkle and Samuel A. Bristol gave particular care to the develo})ment of the church and cemetery. The former, by liis will, left a substantial sum to the church, one-half of the iiuome to be applied to the current expenses, the other to the upkeep of the cemetery. The latter made the cemetery the special object of his care, sparing neither time nor means in its im])rovoinent. TIIK IMIKSjnTKllV OF XKW TOX r,? BEATTYSTOWN. This church was organized May 31, 1886, bj ministers under the leadership of Rev. John Lowrey, and incorporated Xov. 3. of tlie same year. The ori<;inal session consists of Wni. White, H. D. White, Jacob Skinner, and Lewis T. Labar. The trustees were: L. T. Labar, Ezra Johnson, and James Fisher. The congregation originally worshipped in a school l)iiil(liji., (Supply) Sept., 1805-I)ec., l.S().); Rev. Stophfii 1). Xoyes. (Supply) April, ISOG-Sept.. lS(Ui; Rev. Aiulrew Tiilly.' 18()7-187o; Rev. Win. F. Arms, (Supply) 1873-1875; Rev. Charles E. Burns, D. D.. 1877- 1878; Rev. Charles P. Glover, 1879-1886; Rev. Glenorie .\lc(,)neen. 1). 1).. (Su].plv) 18S7-188S; Rev. Alexander M. Higgiiis, 1889-1898; Rev. Joseph Dixon, 1899-190;i; Rev. \Vm. U. Vestervelt, 1904-1914; Rev. Albert N. Millison, 1917- . BELVIDERE FIRST. This church was organized Xov. 25, 1834, its charter members coming from the churches of Oxford, X. J., and Easton, Pa. The elders elected were George R. King, W illiam C. Morris. Chapman Warner, and John M. Sher- rerd, late elders in the Oxford church. Its antecedent history dates back to the days when Belvidere was nuide the county seat of Warren County. We read, "The tract of land on which Belvidere stands was l)Ought from the Indians by Penn. * * ""' Considera- ble was done in the way of freighting in the river in what were known as J)urham boats. But the place was a hamlet. * * In 1820 there were but twenty-eight houses here; '"■ " "" what accelerated and stimulated the growth of the ])lace was not a natural cause, such as the im])rovement of its fine water power, but a ))olitical. It was in 1824 that by act of the Legislatnre the County of Warren was set oft from Sussex. The question of the h)cation of the county seat was submitted to the citizens of the county * * "■ and Belvidere was successful. * * * ■"- With the fixing of the county seat here the village began to enlarge. '' " * "In 1826 at a time when the Oxford congregation was withont a stated ministry a Mr. Ashbridge. who was just through his theological studies at Princeton, came and spent several weeks with it. Amid other labors he preached a number of times in Belvidere and visited every family in the place. The meetings gathered in a room in the Croxall mansion, which had been designed as a ball-room. Thenceforward this service was maintained Sabbath after- no TIIK PrvKSIiVTKKV OF Xi^W'lOX noon or evening as part of the duty of the Oxford minister. A little later it was held in the Court House. ■ " ■ "In the same period falls the institution of a Sabbath school and a prayer meeting. * * * A longer stride in the same direction was when it was determined to build a house of worshii). .laniuuy iOth, 1830, a meeting " "'• was held, at which steps were taken to form a corporation; and seven trustees were chosen. The corporate name was 'The Presbyterian Church of Belvidere.' Four ofiers of ground' were made. That of David Carlile, * * of two lots on the west side of the public square, was accepted. The deed, executed July 18, 1831, contains as consideration the sum of $500. Building began in 1831 (July), and work went on till completion, late in 1834. "The building * was of stone, broad-pointed and brushed so that it had a whitewashed look. A square frame tower, not completed till 1840. rose from the center front. A higher flight of steps than the present ones led to a single door in the middle. There were two windows in the front; and at each corner were doors of entrance to a basement, the rear part of which only was for some years finished for use and employed not only for church purposes but also for a school during the week. The one main door introduced to a two story lobby. Two doors opened thence into tlie audience room. It had — '"" " * four long pointed-topped windows on a side. A galleiy ran around three sides, and the pulpit was between the doors. A solid central double block of pews faced the pulpit. The side pews ran to the wall; and in each of the two rows were two large square pews, one at the front and the other half way down the row. The house was heated by stoves; and the long horizontal ])ii)es were ])rovided with troughs beneath to .catch any drip fiom the chimnevs. The total cost was in the neighborhood of $7,000." The year 1848 was a year of revival. The same year. January 1, the parsonage property was bought for $1.«)00. On July 19, 1849. one of the county ])ai)ers contained a notice that Rev. Edward Allen would preach the next Sabbath evening at the New Academy, where a new churdi organization was to be formed. Fourteen persons were later dismissed to this new church, which is now the Second Cliurch of Belvidere. THK PKESJiV'lKKV OF XKWTOX 01 In 1854 leijairs \vere made consisting of painting, car- peting and improving the lighting of the audience room, and in putting blinds to the building. In January, 1855, the church Avas providentially delivered from fire which broke out in the basement, but was subdued finally after tlireatening the whole building. In 1859 the new church was built at a cost of $9,000, all of which was raised prior to i^ dedication on August 23. In 1870 when the Old and New Schools united there was a reconstruction of Xewton along with other Presby- teries, and Belvidere was the only instance of Old and New School congregations existing in the same place. An effort was made to unite them, but without result. In 1882 extensive repairs were made to the church building, including the spire, the roof, and the interior of the church. In the early days the singing in this church was led by choristers, who also taught a congregational singing school and received a salary for their services. It was not until 1850 that a melodeon was introduced. The list of pastors is as follows: Rev. Isaac X. Candee. 1834-1840; Rev. James Clark. 1840-1850: Rev. Henrv Reeves, 1850-1858; Rev. William Henry Kirk. 1858-18(56; Rev. David Tully. 1866-1872; Rev. Fiillerton Reck Har- baugh. 1872-18741 Rev. William Alexander Hollidav. 1874- 1884; Rev. J. de Hart Bruen. 1884- . BELVIDERE SECOND. This church was organized August 20, 1849. under the authority of the Fourth Presbytery of Philadelphia, with 27 charter members. These had joined in communication to the Fourth Presbytery of Philadelphia (which Presby- tery was connected with what was then known as the New School Element of the Presbyterian Church in the United States) stating their desire to organize a Second Presby- terian church in Belvidere, and, receiving encouragement, had invited Rev. Edward Allen, then teaching a private classical school in Belvidere. to become their pastor. This invitation being accepted, services were begun in the Old Academy building on the corner of Greenwich and Third streets, where now stands the now Belvidere High School building. (52 'If IK l'lJKSln■TKll^■ OF XKW'loX A Sabbath School was forthwith organized, Dr. John Marshall Paul being its superintendent from the begin- ning to the time of his death. The original Session con- sisted of Dr. J, Marshall Paul, Theodore S. Paul, and Dr. R. Byington. The trustees elected July 2t), 1850, were Dr. R. Byington, John Stuart, Ephraim Kanip. A. B. Cani])- bell, Esq., Theodore S. Paul, Israel Harris, and Dr. John M. Paul. TJje corner-stone of the church was laid August 20, 1849, Hon. Daniel Haines, then the Governor and Chancellor of Xew Jersey, and an elder in the North llardyston Presbyterian church, setting the stone. The building is of frame with stone basement and slate roof, seating 250, the original cost of which did not exceed $2,500. It is built on a lot donated for that purpose by the mother of Dr. Paul, who died many years before the enterprise was undertaken, but with the hope that a ciuirch representing the Xew School Element of the Presbyterian Church might be erected thereon. Afterwards in 1868 Dr. J. M. Paul donated to the church a large tract of land on the hill back of the church on which the Stadleinan insti tute Building was erected, for parsonage purposes, with sufl'icient funds to reconstruct there a building and turn it into one of the most comfortable manses in the Presby- tery of Xewton. In the re-union of 1870. this church became a part of Xewton Presbytery. The pastorates during which the church recorded great- est growth were those of Dr. Ellin wood. Dr. Dana. Dr. Anderson and Dr. Maxwell. The longest pastorate was that of Rev. John B. Edmondson, who stayed over a period of nineteen years, during all of which time there were constant additions to the church and a high degree of spirituality maintained. The present eldership is as follows: James Depue, Frank P. kafferts, M. D.. Henry W. Faust. William H. Morrow, so long a conspicuous figure in this church, is the only other elder now living. The list of pastors is as follows: Edward Allen. 1850- 1852; Rev. Francis F. Ellinwood. 1853-1854; Rev. J. Addison Whittaker, 1855-1859; Rev. Henry S. Osborn, L.L.D.. 1859- 1866; Rev. S. W. Dana, afterwards, and for forty years THE PRESBYTERY OF XE\^"|•(>X (i.S pastor of the Walnut Street Presbyterian Clmrcli of Phila- delphia, 1866-18(58; Rev. iSamuel Hayt, Jr., 1869-1870; Rev. J. Marshall Anderson, 1870-1874; Rev. James M. Maxwell, D.D., 1874-1880; Rev. Joseph H. Dullas, 1881- 1883; Rev. \Ym. C. McGarvey, 1883-1888; Rev. Walter H. Ayers, 1889-1890; Rev. John B. Edmondson, 1891-1911; Rev. Walter H. Stone, Ph.D., 1912. BLAIRSTOWN. This church is a child of the Knowlton church. As early as 1822 the pastor of that church, the Rev. Jeremiah 'laimad»ie. i)reacht'd in "The Old Brick Schoolhouse.'' on the Hope road leading from Blairstown, visited the families of the community, and required the study of the Bible and the Sliorter Catechism. For some yeai:s previous to the organi- zation of the church. Miss Mary Shipman conducted a Sabbath School in the schoolhouse. October 19, 1840, the church was organized by a com- mittee of Newton Presbytery, with 15 members, all of them dismissed from the Knowlton church, and the two churches constituted one pastoral charge until 1854. Philip Raub and Jacob Lanterman were chosen elders. March 22, 1839, a meeting of the citizens of Blairstown was held for the purpose of electing trustees for the con- templated church to be built. Mr. John 1. Blair was chosen chairman of the meeting and was elected President of the Board of Trustees. Others elected to the Board were Isaac Crisnian. Isaac Wildrick, Jacob Lanterman. Joseph Wildrick. William Lanterman. and John Kunkle. The church was built, and dedicated December 10, 1840, at a cost of $2,865. The l)uilding is of stone, rough cast. 40 by 50 feet, with a vestibule, belfry and spire. It had old- fashioned doors at the entrance to the pews, and a gallery ran aromul three sides of the church, making a seating capacity of 400. Nov. 1, 1848. the Session resolved to open a parochial school and the services of Dr. I. W. Condit were secured as teacher. The relation between this school, now Blair Academv. and the church has always been very close, tiie pastor of the church being President of the Board of Directors. Mr. Jolm I. Blair, from the founding of the 04 THE PKESBVTEUY OF NEW TOX school to his death. Avas its constant l.enofactor. and by his wise and liberal gifts made possible its development. His son, Mr. D. C. Blair, continued the good work of his father, and gave the money to build additional structures, and now the grandsons, €. Ledyard Blair and J. Insley Blair, are members of the Board of Directors and continue the benefactions. The present church building was erected at a cost of $25,000 and dedicated Feb. 16, 1872. the dedicatory sermon being preached by Di*. John Hall of the Fifth Avenue Church of Xew York City. This building is now uiuler- going extensive repairs. During the pastorate of Bev. John A. Reiley in 1S53 there was a revival of religion, resulting in the addition of 32 members to the church on profession of faith and two by certificate. During the pastorate of Dr. James Xewton Armstrong, the present incumbent, in 1916. special evangelistic ser\ices were held for men only, resulting in the conversion of many. During that year and the year succeeding. 76 persons united with the church. 38 of them on profession of faith. The Woman's Missionary Society, the Simday School, and the C. E. Society have always done steady, efficient work. A Pastor's Aid Society was organized in 11)08. which has proved to lie of yreat 1 enetit to the cluirch frcun a social standpoint. It has been so diligent in earning money that its gifts have paid for the remodeling of the Sabbath School room and a ])iano. And .tl.olO have b.een earned by the society for repairs of the main auditorium, which are to cost $7,000. The Home Dei)artment of the Sabbath School is one of the most efficient organizations of the church. The present enrollment is 111. The elders are William C". Allen. :\I. D.. -lolin E. Bouton. Frank P. Bunnell. DeWitt C. Carter. Albert M. Freeman. Enos H. Freeman. George D. Losey, James H. Shannon. The list of pastors is as follows: Bev. Thaniel B. Condit, 1841; Rev. David Longmore. (Supplv) 1842; Rev. John C. Lowrey. 1843-1845; Rev. John A. Reiley. 1845- 1866; Rev. Thomas A. Sanson. 1867-1883; Rev. Henry S. Butler, D. D., 1884-1007; Rev. Luther Davis, 1908-1000; Rev. James Xewton Armstrong. D. 1).. 1909- . THE PKKSin'TKUV OF XKWTOX Go BLOOMSBURY. This chiirt'h was organized October 29, 1857, on the authority of Newton Presbytery, with 42 charter members, having been previously a mission station of Greenwicli. The need of a Presbyterian church at this point was occasioned, at least in part, by the impetus which the place received from the extension of the New Jersey Central Railroad through the Musconetcong valley to Eas- ton, Pa., which occurred in 1852. Deeming it necessary that a congregation be organized and a church building erected, a group of citizens met informally under the trees at the residence of Robert 1. Smith, the result of which meeting was a petition to Pies- bytery and the subsequent organization of the church. The elders were James Bird, H. R. Kennedy, William J. Smith and William Tinsman. The trustees were William S. Gardner, Abram Hance, and Joseph ^A'. Willever. On November 19, 1857, Mr. Adam D. Runkle donated and deeded over to the congregation a suitable piece of land upon which to erect a church edifice. On this land the congregation, which had previously worshipped in a school house, built a frame church, 44 by 68 feet, with a seating- capacity of 700. at a cost of $5,583. This building was later damaged by a storm which swept through the valley, blowing down the steeple, cracking the bell, and otherwise injurinji the structure. It was repaired, however, from the foundation up, and the .same building, much beautified within recent years, still stands. In 1861 this church, with others, was transferred to the Presbytery of Raritan. In December of that year there was great religious interest manifested, so that 22 of the young people were admitted to the church on profession of faith, as well as others by certificate. Early in 1870 another revival took place, as a result of which 43 were admitted to membership. In 1870. also, at the reunion of the two branehes of th'^ Presbyterian church, this consregation was again placed under the care of Newton Presbytery, its name IxMng ])laced on the roll June 22. The present eldership is as follows: Theodore Tinsman. William Sherrer, John Lewdrop, J. A. S. Stone. (•)() THI-: I'JIKSI'.YTKIIV OK XKWTOX The list of pastors is as follows: Kev. W. E. Wester- velt, 1858-1861; Rev. Joseph S. VaiiDvke. 18()l-18tJ9; Rev. H. B. Scott, 1869-1879; Rev. John C. CIvde. 1879-1901; Rev. Irvin F. Wagner, 1902-1908; Rev. A. 'B. Williamson, 1908-1915; Rev. J. S. Butt. 1915- . BRANCHVILLE. 'rkis c'hurdi was organi/ed at Au^^iista in 1S20. as the First Presbyterian Church of Frankford, under the author- ity of the Presbytery of Jersey. There were fourteen charter members, 12 by profession of faith and two by letter. It was the outgrowth of occasional preaching by Presbyterian ministers from Newton and elsewhere, and, from time to time, colportage work by the American Tract Society. As a result of systematic missionary effort on the part of two theological students during a vacation period of 1818, Rev. Enos A. Osborn was sent to labor in the field. Randal Stivers was the first elder. Ebenezer Tuttie. the first deacon. The church for a time occupied a small frame building, built in' 1827, with a seating capacity of 2(K), on land deeded by Col. John Gustin to be retained as long as used by the society. This building was sold in 1875 for $100, removed and used as a barn now on another ]iart of the Gustin farm, where Thomas C. Roe now lives. Pi-e- vious to 1827 the congregation had worshi])])ed in the sehoolhouses of Augusta and Branchville. In 1856 the location was changed to Branchville and the name to the First Presbyterian Church of Branchville. A frame edifice was erected at a cost of $3,000 on land given by Simeon H. Stivers. A considerable alteration was made to this building in 1876 at a cost of $1,600. For a short time previous to 1870 the basement was used by a few dissenting church people in the community who formed the nucleus of what later became the Branch- ville M. E. Church. Conspicuous among the pastors was Rev. George W. Lloyd, whose two pastorates totalled 25 years. He was a very able ])reacher and had no mean ability in poetry. He was an Englishman by birth and training but a staunch advocate and supporter of the Union during the Civil War. THE PRESBYTERY OF XE\V TON 67 The present eldership is as follows: Irving X. Roe, Samuel Smith. Boyd S. Ely, George A. Buchanan, Clayton Davenport, and John C. Hunt. The list of pastors is as follows: Stated Supplies. Rev. Enos A. Osborn, 1819; Rev. Burr Baldwin, 1821 ; ilev. Nathan J. Conklin, 1824; Rev. Ezra F. Dayton, 1833; Jlev. Nathaniel Beach, 1837; Rev. Joseph N'ance, 1838; Rev. Bethuel Farrand. 1842; Rev. Alfred Ketcham. 1848; Rev. George W. Lloyd, 1857; Pastors, Rev. Georjie W. Lloyd, 1861; Rev. Peres B. Bonney, 1866; Rev. William H. Belden, 1872; Rev. David Stevenson, 1878; Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald, 1881; Rev. George ^V. Llovd, 1883; Rev. H. Munhall Tlmrlow, 1899; Rev. Edward Eels. 1903: Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf. 1906; Rev. \Villiam C. Perez. 1912. DANVILLE. This cliurch, located at (ireat Meadows, was originally a colony from Hackettstown. Under the })reaching of Rev. Joseph Campbell, J).l).. of that church, a little com- pany was formed who. in June, 1823, met at the house of Aaron X'anBuskirk for the purpose of adopting some measures to build a church. Li October of that year a Board of Trustees was elected as follows: Daniel Vleit, Thomas Pleming, Jo.seph Coryell. John Stinson. AVilliam Ijorison, W. W. Wilson, Jaeob Johnson. In November. 1824, a stone building was erected at a cost of $1,148. but it was not completed until 1832. costing upwards of $2,000. A manse situated at \'ienna was pur- chased for $500 at about the same time. In November. 1831, a committee of Newton Presbytery met in the Danville church to organize it. John H. Flem- ing. David X'reeland. and Vincent Rnnyon were elected the first rilling elders and were ordained to the oflFice by the Presbytery's committee. For a number of years the church was dependent upon supplies appointed by Presbytery until the first regularly installed i)astor came in 1841. In 1863 the original church buildinji was remodeled, and in 1867 the ]>resent manse, adjoining the church, was secured by purchase. Again in 1904, the building was remodeled and repaired at a total cost of $1.1.')0. while dming the ministry of the ])resent j)astor both church and manse have been greatly improved. as THE PUKSlJYTKlfV OF Xi.W'lOX Tlie I'liurcli has four elders. Lewis Merrill, (ieorge L. Williams, Frank Merrill, and Edward Y. Williams, all active in the Sabbath School as teachers and oflicers, and a regularly organized Board of Trustees, and a Ladies' Aid Society, which supports the local church and contri- butes to the Mission Boards, and a Junior Home and Foreign Missionary Society well sustained. Hon. C. H. Albertson, who died in June, 1913, was ruling elder for over fort^-four, and Siuulay School Su])erintendent for over forty-two years. The list of pastors is as follows: Rev. Joseph Campbell. D.D., Stated Supply, 1820; Rev. Whitfield Hunt, S. S, five years; Rev. Mr. Carpenter, S. S., one and a half years; Rev. Richard Graham, S. S. ; Rev. Jehiel Talmadge, S. S. ; Rev. Joseph Worrell, Pastor, 1841-1844; Rev. James Hvnd- shaw, S. S.; Rev. Chas. Milne, S. S.; Rev. Alex McCand'less, Pastor, 1849; Rev. Ephraim Simanton. 1851; Rev. A. H. Hallow ay, 1867; Rev. J. P. Clark. 1874; Rev. R. A. Brvant, 1882; Rev. Geo. H. S. Campbell, 1891; Rev. X. P. Crouse. 1896; Rev. J. P. Crane, 1905; Rev. Otto R. W. Klose. 1908- 1917. DELAWARE. This church was organized in the village of Delaware by the authority of Xewton Presbytery on Jime 7. 1871. It was originally a mission of the Knowlton church and was the result of the labors of Mr. Wm. H. Hemingway and Mr. John H. Burd, both elders. The original Session was: Wm. H. Hemingway, JohtJ Burd, Dr. L. C. Osmun. The trustees were Wm. F. Hutch- inson, C. T. James, James Prall. The congregation, which originally worshipped in the railroad station, built in 1873, the same year in which the church was incorporated, a frame building, which is still in use. The piesent elders are: John Henry Albertson. and S. Transue. The list of pastors is as follows: Rev. 1). F. Lockerby. 1871-1873; Rev. Andrew Tullv, 1873-1875; Rev. Daniel Dirwelle, 1875-1885; Rev. R. Hamill Davis, 1885-1889; Uev. Chas. E. Van Allen, 1890-1895; Rev. Albert L. Kelly. 1895 1898; Rev. J. Edward Grant, 1899-1901; Rev. Janu>s \A'. THE PKESP.VTKKY OF XKWTOX 01) Shearer, 1902-1904; Kev. J. B. Porter, June, 1904-October, 1904; Rev. Edward A. McLaury, 1905-1908; Rev. H. W. Ewig, 1908-1909; Rev. Augustus C. KeOogg, 1910- . FRANKLIN. This church was organized by the authority of the Presbytery of Newton on April 11, 1894, with 40 members. It was begun by those who had previously belonged to the Reformed Church in America, but Jiad disbanded because it was out of touch with the Classis of Passaic. The original Session was: Rev. Geo. B. Crawford, Thomas J. Troloar, and Alexander Watt. The trustees were: H. C. Lang, Millard F. Goldsmith, John Dunstan, Jonatlian C. Stevens, Frank Lozaw, and Wm. McBane. The church at the time of its organization occupied the old stone edifice, which still stands in the borough of Franklin, built by the people of that community in 1837 who organized themselves into the First Particular Church of Hardystone, Old School Baptist. This building is in good repair yet. althoiigh now unused. It has been occu- pied by different denominations in turn. After the davs of the Old School Baptists, the M. E. Church and the Presbyterian Church both had services in it. Then the Presbyterians were left to do work alone in the community for a short time. Afterward the Dutch Reformed took up the work. In 1894 the work was again given back intn papers and seupervise the building. They met with such encouragement that the building, a frame structure cost- ing $1,466, was ready for worship the next year and was dedicated in November, 1807. The high pulpit, with a sounding board, reached by winding stairs and with a door to shut in the preacher, was at the north end of the church. The precentor's seat was in front of the pulpit. The nu'n sat on one side of the church, the women on the other. There were galleries, and stoves with pij)es running along under the galleries. These stoves nuist liave been put in after the building was erected for originally it was custo- mary for the older ladies to carry foot -stoves. The first trustees were: Godfrey Kline, Henry Winter. Andrew Miller, Benjamin Youmans, and Moses Allen. Their first elders were: Henry Winter, Peter Yomig. David THE PRESBYTER V Ol^ XEWTOX 77 Osmiin, and John Connelly. While it is not known exaetly when the church was organized, we find that now instead of being known as "Harmony Society" it was called "Harmony Congregation." In 1840 the old church burned down from an over-heated stove and a new one was built of the style then in vogue. There was no vestibule, but the pulpit was considered a gem for those days. It was of moderate height, with wiiul- ing stairs, having railings and placed on the south side of the church between the front doors. The gallery, ex- tending around three sides of the church, was reached by stairs at the front. There were four rows of pews and two aisles. It was heated by stoves in the front and back of the church, and lighted by oil lamps with large globes, suspended from brackets in the gallery fronts. There were also very tall pulpit lamps. The cost of the church, includ- ing furnishing, was over $4,000. In 1886 this was disman- tled and rel)uilt at a cost of $8,170. During the pastorate of Rev. ^Ir. Snyder a new parsonage was built. The present eldership is as follows: John L. (line. Thomas F. Dewitt, Peter Kline, Amzi Miller, and George Dewitt. The list of pastors is as follows: Rev. Garner A. Hnnt. 1807-1818; Rev. Lemuel Firdham Leake. 1818-1828; Rev. Robert Love. 1832-1838; Rev. John J. Carrell. 1830-1848: Rev. John Skinner, D.D.. 1849-1853; Rev. Andrew Tullv. 1853-1861; Rev. David Kerr Freenmn, 1862-1860; ]\v\. Henry Egidius Spavd, 1870-1884; Rev. Roderick Provost Cobb! 1885-1888; Rev. Isaac Davison Decker. 1888-1893; Rev. Joseph D. Hillman. 1894-1901; Rev. Leopold Reid Burrows, 1902-1904; Rev. Edward Snyder. 1905-1912; Rev. A. Dodge, 1912-1913; Rev. .James Douoherty, 1913- . KNOWLTON. This churt'h, as was customary in the early days, took its name from the name of the townshij) of Kiujwlton. which was set off from Oxford in 1764. The people who were originally associated together as a religious society were a mixture of Gernums and English, wifh ])erha})s a few of other nationalities. An old recoid in the (lerman language shows that there were religious activities at this point as early as 1766, and during the next teti years about 7S THE PHESJiVTEKV OF XEW'IOX 125 children were baptized. The original name of the re- ligious society was: "First English and (xernian Congre- gation in Knowlton." A i»ecord made by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, April 25, 1775, runs as follows: "A luimber of people in Knowlton, Sussex County, being collected into a Chris- tian Society, desired to be under the care of this Presby- tery and supplicate for supplies.*' While there was doubtless more or less preaching in Knowlton prior to this by Dutch ministers, this seems to be the first Presbyterian record of the congregation. ^Ir. Peppard, Mr. Rosebrough. and Mr. Hanna were the tirst recorded Presbyterian ministers to preach there. In August, 1778, Mr. Stockton, the first pastor, was installed, dividing his time between Knowlton. Oxford and Manslield Woodhonse. In 1780. however. "Mr. Stockton represented to Presbytery the divided, broken state of the Knowlton congregation, the diflFiculties continually arising in laboring among them, and the small encouragement arising from that quarter, desires to be liberated from that part of his charge." Thereafter ensues a period of supplies. 0]i Se])tember 22. 1802. Pi-esl)ytery ap])()inted Kev. Eben- ezer Grant to supply the congregation at his discretion. In a report to Presbytery in April. 1803. Mr. (xraiit said among other things: "that although he had not been able io spend as much time among them as he could liave wished, and although the very inclement season had ren- dered it impracticable for him to gather full and accurate ideas of the state and wishes of the people, so as satisfac- torily to answ'er every point of enquiry suggested by the Presbytery, yet from previous acquaintance and the in- telligence he could collect durino the week he continneil among them, he is enabled to state, that there is. at this time no regularlv organized congregation in the township of Xolton." From this report we learn that the High Dutch Calvin - ists, the Episcopalians, and the Presbyterians united in the erection of the new Knowlton church, which it was expect- ed would be finished before the close of 1803. As near as can be ascertained the original log church stood Jieai- the present site. The church built in 1802-3 stood in the cenir Tin-: i>jn-:si;v'i-KRv of xkwtox to tt*rv across the road from w liere the present building stands. It seems apparent tliat tlic church was not re-organized un- til after April, 1803. The name of the church as reorganized was: "The PTrst English and German Congiegation hi Knowlton." At the meeting of Presbytery April 2(». 1803. Mr. John I.iiin was present and is designated as an elder from Knowlton. It is the first time that the records mention an elder as representing the church. In the records two names appear as designating the congregation. "The New" meant the new church at the present location, and "The Old" meant St. James Episcopal on the Delaware. It was in the new church that the second pastor, Mr. Barclay, was installed, thus becoming the first pastor of the reorganized church. For a time things moved along smoothly until difl'iculties arose which required the inter- vention of Presbytery and finally in 1812 the pastoral relation was dissolved. The old Knowlton church during its long history has had many pastors and has lived to see its children outstrip their mother, as population lias moved from the country into the towns. Thus after the organization of the Blairs- town church out of Knowlton in 1840. the same pastors served both until the year 1854. More recently Delaware and Knowlton have constituted one pastoral charge. The complete list of pastors so far as obtainable is as follows: Pxev. Philip Stockton.. 1778-1780; Pvev. David Barclay, 180r)-1812; Rev. Jeliiel Talmadge, 1822-1830; Pvev. Thaniel B. Condit, 1841; Rev. David Longmore. 1842; Rev. John C. Lowrv. 1843-184r>: Rev. John * A. Reilev. 184.1- 1854; Rev. R. H. Reeves, 1854; Rev. P. H. Brooks. 1868; Rev. D. F. Lockerbv.. 1872; Rev. Andrew Tullv, 1873-1875; Rev. Daniel Derwelle, 1875-1885; Rev. R. HamiU Davis. lS8r,-l880: Rev. (has. K. Van Allen. 1800-1805: Rev. Albert L. Kelly. 1805-1808; Rev. J. E. Grant, 1800-1001; Rev. James W. Shearer. 1002-1004; Rev. J. B. Porter. 1004-1005; Rev. Edward A. McLaurv. 1005-1008; Rev. 11. W. Ewig. LAFAYETTE. This church was oiganized I y the Presbytery of Rocka- wa\-. under which jurisdiction this section then existed, in 80 THE PRESBYTEKY OF XEWTOX 185G. In 1857 the present church buiklin<>. a frame struc- ture seating 150, was erected and dedicated. There were 14 charter members received from the ehurcli of Hardystone. Xone of these are now livinu although descendants of sev- eral of them are enrolled among the members of the pres- ent congregation, John D. Ackerson was the first elder. Recently the Sunday School and Christian Endeavor Society have been reorganized and about a score of new members added. The church lias now about 72 members, of whom 9 are non-resident. In 1905, under the pastorate of the Rev. A. B. Jamison, the church was repaired and decoiated and stained glass windows were put in at a cost of a])out $1,000. The origi- nal cost of the building was about $4,000. In 1889 the present manse was built at a cost of $2,000. There is no indebtedness on church or manse. In 1907 the fiftieth anniversary of the chuich was cele- brated by appropriate services, the anniversary sermon be- ing preached by the Rev. James Xorthrup, who at one time attended the Lafayette Church. The present elders are: (Jeorge O. Wilson, John Barber, L. M. Hunt. Frank Emmojis. Richard D. Snook, and C C. Backster. The list of pastors is as follows: Rev. Joel Campbell, 15 years; Rev. Jethro B. Woodward. 1872-1882; Rev. Robert S. Feagles. 1 year; Rev. Baker Smith. 3 years; Rev. F. R. S. Hunsicker, 7 years; Rev. Chas. E. ^'an Allen. 1 year; Rev. Thomas W. Bowen. 5 years: Rev. Wm. C Westervelt. 2 vears. MANSFIELD SECOND. The Second ^lan afield chuich was organized in Mans- field ToAvnship, near Rockport village, ^lay 1. 1855. by au- thority of the Presbytery of Newton, with 15 charter mem- bers, a few of whom were fr(nn Hackettstown. and others from Danville. The first elders were: Aaron Bryan. David C. Davis and Tunis H. Tunison. The first trustees were: Robert P. Ramsey, Chas. Stewart, Henry C. Davis. Mansfield White, Samuel Vanatta and Jas. McCrev. THE PRESBYTERY OF XEWTOX 81 The church occupies a frame ])uil(lino, erected at a cost of $2,000. It has never suftered a change of location, nor was its property ever shared with any other denomination. It enjoyed a revival during tlie pastorate of Dr. Campbell. its present elders are: Aaron Bryan. David C. Davis, Tunis Tuni^on. Henry Husselton. Jas. Beatty, Wilson Bloomtield. E. Watters. and S. Vannatta. The list of pastors is as folloAvs: Rev. Hollowav ^I. Hunt. 185(); Rev. Gilbert I^ne. 1801-1866; Rev. Thomas M. (irav, June 1866-Oct. 18<)6; Rev. Joseph H. Doremus. 1807: Rev'. John P. Clarke. 1881; Rev. Philip Reese, 1891-1804: Rev. (ieo. H. S. Campbell, 1805-1800; Rev. J. W. Bell. 1000- 1001: Rev. L. B. Plumer. 1003-1007; Rev. Richardson Grav. 1007-1014; Rev. J. D. Hillman, 1014—. As will be seen, these pastors, beginning with ^Ir. Reese served both ^lansfield Second and Beattystown, and the dates of their pastorates will be found in the sketch of the latter church. MARKSBORO. This church was organized November 14, 1814. in the uj)per room of an old tavern near where the present hotel now stands. Its previous history is as follows: Shortly after the year 1800. a Sabbath School was organized where Markslioro is now located. Its superintendent was Alfred W. Cooke and it had a membership of about 80 scholars. This seems to have been the nucleus of the religious or- gainzation which afterward actjuired the name of the ^larksboro Presbyterian Church. In 1811 Mr. John Boyd was pastor at Hard wick or Yel- low Frame and this Sabbath School was Avithin the bounds of his congregation. At this time a tatcd that the organization was ett'ected. 82 Tf{K IMtKSm'TKUY OF NKWTOX For a time tlie people met for worship in private houses, in the upper room of the hotel, and in a neighborinjT harn on the farm now owned by Austin R. Mott. But by De- cember. 1815. the walls of a brick chiu-ch l)uildino- were up and the roof was on. There were no funds, however, with which to put on the plaster and provide pews. Slab seats were improvised, a work bench was used for a pulpit, and a Franklin stove provided the heat. The congregation used it thu8 for about six years until the Iniilding was finished. They had service only once a fortnight, then two sermons with an intermission of half an hour, for a little lunch brought with them from their homes. They had no Sun- day School in those davs. but the pastor divided the con- gregation into districts, meeting at some home in each in turn and asking questions from the Bible. Rev. John Boyd, who was Stated Supply from the fall of 1814 until the spring- of 1820. was senior minister when the Presbytery of Xewton was formed in 1817. preached the opening sermon, and was elected the first Moderator. In 1823 the church formed a union with Stillwater and Yellow Frame, each of these churches finding it impossible to sustain the gospel alone. This arrangement lasted up to the end of Mr, ^NlcGee's pastorate. Mr. McClee gave himself wholly to the work, having half a dozen preaching places and never missing an appointment. The last Sab- bath he ministered he was not well and returned home nevei- to come foith alive, dying in about ten days on May 25, 18G7, He was laid to rest in the ilardwick. noAv Yellow Frame, cemetery. The union between the churches being severed at his death, the next pastor. Rev. Jos. H. Tliyne. occupied the parsonage purchased for him. as the first pastor Avhich the chinch had had to itself. 'Ilie church for many years worshipped in the brick building previously mentioned, but during the pastorate of Mr. McCee it was filled to oveiHowing and was therefore torn down and replaced by a frame building of much larger dimensions built on the same lot. This building was dedi- cated, soon after completion, in 1850. Some alterations were made and the buihling was renovated in 1893-94. In 1914-15, it was again ledecorated and painted inside and out. with the addition of a new metal ceiling, stained glass windows, and gas lights, making it a very pleasing little conntiv chnrcli. all fiee fiom debt. Till-: IMJKsr.V'IKlJV OF XKW'IOX 8:^ The present elders are: E. P. Cooke, and W. A. Kerr. Tlie list of pastors is as follows: Rev. John Boyd. S. S. 1814-1820; Rev. Benjamin I. Lowe. 1S24-183(); Rev.^Riehard (irav. S. S. 6 months; Rev. Thaniel C'ondit. S. S. (i months: Rev*. Jonathan H. Sherwood. P. 18.31)1841: Rev. Wm. C. :Mc- (ivi\ 1841-1807; Rev. Jos. H. Thvne. 18()7-1871; Rev. C. H. Rodnev. 1872-1878; Rev. R. J. Bnrtt. 1879-189.-); Rev. E. A. Mcl.anrv. 1896-1900 ; Rev. J. .1. Wolf. 190r)-1908: Rev. A. F. IjQtt. 1909-1913: Rev. P. F. Meade. 1914—. MUSCONETCONG VALLEY. This church is one of the historic churches in its section of the country. The first steps towards its organization were taken on Dec. 24. 1836, at the New Hampton school house. Application 'having been made in April, 1837, the church was formally organized in June of that year by a committee of Presbytery consistino- of Rev. Wm. B. Sloan, Rev. Jacob R. Castner. and Rev. David X. Junkin. There were 26 charter members and Rev. John McXair was first pastor and Moderator. It was the outgrowth of the New Hampton Sab1;ath School organized bv Mrs. Bousenburv of Phila. The church occupies a stone building erected in 1837 on ground given by Jacob Skinner. During the building of the church, services were held in a tent on the grounds. The longest pastorates were those of Rev. Jas. Lewers, nineteen years, and Rev. J. B. Kugler, eighteen years, who left a deep impress upon the community. The pastorate of Rev. Mr. Kelley was marked by a period of evangelism. This church, logically the child of Mansfield or Wash- ington, became in turn the mother of Asbury and (ilcii (iardner. The Elders now serving are: Absalom A])gar. Henry Maitin and John Mayberry. Tho list of pastors is as follows: Rev. .John McXair. 1837: Rev. Jas. Lewers, 1841-1860: Rev. Alfred Veomans. 18(50-1860: Rev. John B. Kugler, 186r)-1883: Rev. Mr. Hun- sicker, 1884-1887: Rev. Albert L. Kellev. 1889-1892; Rev. J. B. Tmberger, 1893-1904; Uev. Jas. Proven, 190o-190(); Rev. Ward C. Peahody. 1907-1^7: Rev. A. J. Fowlie. 1917—. Two from this churcli haxc L'one out into the gospel ministrv. 84 THE Pl^ESBYTERY OF XEWTOX NEWTON. Tliis church was organized about 1780. The first church huikling- was of stone erected in ITcS/i upon the site of the present edifice, but facing what is now Church St. It was forty-five feet square and capable of seating three hun- dred people. It Avas ceiled with boards and had a gallery. The high pulpit had its sounding board, and thereon was perched a gilded dove with an olive branch of peace in its mouth, thus like Xoah's dove liolding sway over troubled waters. Fourteen jiews and sixteen seats on the main fioor; and five pews and sixteen seats in the gallery, all guileless of paint, made up the seating accommodations. At the close of Rev. Ira Condit's pastorate in 1793 the church building had been sold on execution. It seems how- ever to have been held for redemption, at such time as the congregation could recover themselves from their financial embarrassment. For a time the church united with the Hardyston or Sparta church, but at the close of Rev. Mr. Hunfs pastor- ate in 1802 a union in the support of a pastor A\as effected between the XeAvton church and Haidwick or VelloA\' Frame. The congregation was still indebted to their former pas- tor, Rev. Mr. Condit. In 1804 this amounted to $1,400 and it greatly crippled the people in their work. They did not succeed in freeing themselves from this incubus till 1818. The next structure also of stone was erected about 1820. It cost $6,000 and was erected partly on the site of the old one. It was o3 x 70 feet and had a seating capacity of six hundred. The original church building had free stone lin- tels. On these were the inscriptions. '"Keep thy feet when thou goest to the house of (Jod, and be moie ready to hear than to make the sacrifice of fools." And. "Thou slialt keep my Sabbaths, and revere my sanctuary. I am the Lord." These lintels were incorporated in the new build- ing, but by an oversight they were plastered over and so remained till they were discovered at the erection of the third building and restored to their original use. The ])resent commodious building was erected in 1871, dedicated ^lay 10, 1872, the corner stone being laid by Mr. W. \V. Woodward. President of the Board of Trustees, a faithful and earnest elder these many years past. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. .lohn Hall. D. 1)., l)astor of Fifth Ave. Church. Xew York City. THE Pl^vESBYTErvY OF XEWTOX 85 The present cliapel was built 188.>-18S(), the church edi- fice costiufr $.50,000 and the chapel $10,000. In 180o the (hurch was altered and renovatean installed, choii- loft chanjicd over the entrance to the rear of the pulpit, and wainscoting finish laid, all at a cost of $10,000. To-day the church is free of all indebfed- jiess. The manse was built in 18()0 during- the X)astorate of Dr. Mott. While the ]>astorate of Mr. Condit was interestin*; in that he was its first pastor and it was his first charge, he being ordained and installed at a service at which Rev. Dr. W itlierspoon presided, preached the sermon, and delivered the charge to the pastor, still the pastorate of Rev. Jos- ei)h L. Sliafer was tlie longest, and he perhaps has left the deepest impression on the life of the congregation. It was during his time that a Sabbath School was established one of the earliest in the vicinity. The church also sent some of its Christian women to Swartswood and gathered the I)eople together in a movement of a missionary character in the form of a Bible School, This resulted in establishing a l)reaching station there, the acquiring of real estate and the erecting of a house of Avorship held for them by the Trustees of the Xewton Cliurch until it was later sold. The present elders of the Xewton church are: Wm. P. Courson, Wm. W. A\'oodward, Philip R. Harden. Philip S. Wilson, Martin M. Fredenburgh. Clinton W. Kellum. Ro- land T. Hull. The list of i)astors is as follows: Rev. Ira Condit. 1787- 1703; Rev. H. W. Hunt. I70.")-1802; Rev. Jolm Bovd. 180.3- 1811; Rev. Joseph L. Shafer, 1812-183o; Rev. Daniel M. Bar- ber. 183(5-1838; Rev. Joseph L. Shafer, 1838-1803; Rev. Mv- ron Barrett. 1 8.54 -1 8.1 1); Rev. Geo. S. Mott. 18.50-1808; Rev. Theodore L. Bvington. 18li0-1874: Rev. .). Addison Priest. D. D.. 187-5-1880; Rev. Eugene C. Olney. 1880-1884: Rev. Alexander H. Young. D. D., 1884-1802; Rev. Samuel Car- lisle, D. D.. 1802-1002; Rev. Clarence W. Pvouse. 1003—. OXFORD FIRST. This church first a])i)ears in history in 1730 when the peo])le in the neighborhood of Oxford l-'urnace asked the Presbytery of Xew Brunswick for supplies of i)reaching along with (ireenwich and Washington. Iron ore having been discovered there, .lonathan {{obeson commenced to 8(1 TlIK IMJKSinTKlJV OK XiaV'I'OX erect a furnace in that vicinity in 1741, and produced the first pig iron on ]\Iarch 9. 1743. The establishment of this industry did much to bring inhabitants to the neighbor- hood, and so large was the migration of people that it was necessary in 17.")3 to organize a new township, that of Ox- ford. It is said that in 174-i llev. James Campbell of Tinicum. Bucks Co., Pa., Avas among the people and baptized chil- dren. -■'As near as can be ascertained, some time between 1739 and 1744 an organization was effected and a log church built at or near the site of the present First Oxford Church. As David Brainerd came to the Forks of Delaware in 1744, it is supposed that he preached at times in this build- ing, as also Rev. Messrs. Daniel Lawrence, John Cross, John Clark, Robert Cross, John Boyd, and James McCrea. father of Miss. Jane McCYea. whose story is well known to history-. The site of the old Oxford meeting house has been occu- pied bj' a church longer than any other spot in Warren County. Other churches may have built earlier but they no longer occupy their original site. Meetings had been held for some years before any church was built and the circuit riding minister would preach now in this house now in that. There was great rivalry between this site and an- other at the cemetery near \yiiite Hall. The vicinity of the old Oxford meeting house was first known as Uppei- Clreenwich or Creenwich on the Delaware. On September .>. 1788. the Board of Trustees directed that a carpenter be engaged to make a pattern for pews for the church, also that the people assemble to choose the location of their seats, and that each one should have his pew made according to the pattern provided. For many years the pastors lived at Belvidere in a log house on the site of the residence of Henry Deshlei'. About 1787 the congregation became incorporated, dames Davison. Robert Hoo])s, John Kinney, Abraham Ax- ford. William Kerr, Josiah Mackey, and Josiah Sweazy are mentioned as taking oaths as trustees. As near as can be ascertained the elders at that time were: Robert Davison, Jacob Howly, William Loder, James McCrawken. Philip Ti- tus, and John \'an Buskirk, Dec. 4, 1799, Washington n Nov. 18, 1834, four elders and 37 members were dis- missed from the church to form the First Presbyterian Church of Belvidere. That left liut one ruling elder in the church, Elder -lohn Clark. The pastor, Mr. Caiulee. also went to the Belvidere church. During the pastorate of Kev. James McWilliams a par- sonage was purchased from Elder Hiels for $400, and imme- diately an addition was made thereto costing $1,000. Dur- ing his ministry also, in 1844, a small chapel ^^as erected at Oxford Eurnace and preaching services and a Sunday Schodl Avere established there. During the pastorate of Rev, Erederick Knighton, D, D., who by the way wa< never, throughout the nineteen years of his ministry there, installed, the present brick edifice was erected. It followed the frame structure that many years before had taken the place of the original log church. In 18G3 tlu^ churdi sent forth 21 of her members to form the Oxford Second Presbyterian Church at Oxford Eurnace. In 1009 the church edifice was handsomely refurnished and a steam heat ami an acetylene lighting plant installed. Conspicuous among the eldership were John Clark, who served from as early as 1804 to 1842, and his namesake, John Clarke Prall, who became elder sometime between 1803 and 1873 (the record has been lost) and has served faithfully up to the present time. The church was well renu^mbered by John I. Blair in a very hel])ful endowment of many thousands of dollars. '1 he present membership is 100. The list of pastors is as follows: Ke\-. John Rosebrough, 175.)-1709; Kev. Asa Dunham; Rev. David Baiclay, LSOo- 1812; Rev, (larner A. Hunt, 1814; Rev. l^muel F. Leake. 1810-1820 ; Rev. Sylvester (iraham, 1820-1828; Rev. Isaac X. Candee, 1829-1834; Rev. Robert Love, 183.1-1838; Rev. James McWilliams, 1842-1853: Rev. Erederick Knighton. I). D., 18.34- 1873; liev. John E. Pollock. 1874-1883; Rev. S, Xye Hutchison, 1883-1900; Rev. W. B. Sheddon, 1900-1904; Rev. Robert Robinson, D. D,, 190.>-1912; Rev. Richardson Gray, M. D., 1914-191.); Rev, Samuel B. Cooper, Pli. D., 191.5—. 88 THE PRESBYTERY OF XEWTOX OXFORD SECOND. This church was organized -May 8, 18G3. with about 50 members. It was originally a mission station of Oxford 1, but situated about four miles distant. The original Ses- sion was S. T. Scranton, Henry A. Kingsbury, Charles Scranton. The trustees were: Elisha Beers. S. T. Scranton, Wm. Stout and John Jones. ThiT? church, which originally worshipped in a school - house, occupied later a stone building then erected one of l)rick about I860 at a cost of $20,000. The longest pastorate was that of Rev. E. Clark Cline, who served the church about twenty-one years. He was efficient always and greatly endeared himself to his people. The present Eldership is as follows: X. A. Jones, L. T. Stinson, Abram Pittenger and E. H. ^Vard. The list of pastors is as follows: Isaiah B. Hopwood, 1863-1866; E. Clarke Cline. 1866-1887; Irving Maxwell 1887- 1895; Wm. J. Mewhinney. 1901-1906: Geo. R. Merrill. lOOC)- 1909; F. B. Schoonover, 1910-1914: W. A. AA'ager. 1915— The church has given two memliers to the mission field, one of them to Japan. PHILLIPSBURG FIRST. This church was organized Dec. 13, 1853. by a committee of the Presbytery of Xewton. in "The Academy" which was the old "'X'^o. 1 School Building." the site now occupied by the Sitgreaves School Building at Brainard and Hudson Sts. Three elders were elected: John Lander, Benjamin Burwell, and John C. Bennett. The deacons elected were: Thomas Reese, and Robert Dempster. In those days there were no luxurious cushioned seats; the room was not brilliantly lighted nor even comfortable. A stove. Avith a long pipe running around one end of the room, an. There are a number of important and busy societies whose work and infiuence lias been great, the Pastor's Aid Society, recently organized with a membership of more than 100, the Foreign Missionary Society with 50 members, the Christomathean Home Missicjn Society with 88 mem- bers, the Alpha Chapter of the Westminster Guild with 25 members, the Christian Endeavor Society, and the Sun- day School with 325 members. The elders are: Sering P. Bowers, George W. Beers, Robert C. Cook, Albert C. Godfrey, Frank P. McKinstrv, M. D.. Frederick N. -leiikins, Charles R. Ford, Robert W. Allen. The list of pastors is as follows: Rev. John Rosebrough, 1704-1709; Rev. Philip Stockton, 1778-1781; Rev. Peter Wil- son, 1786-1798; Rev. Wm. B. Sloan, 1798-1815; Rev. Samuel Robertson. 1815-1810; Rev. Jacob R. Castner. 1817 (?)- 1848; Rev. James Lillie, 1849-1851; Rev. John Turbitt, 1851-1852; Rev. Solomon McXair, 1853-1800; Rev. E. 1). Brvan, 1801-1870; Rev. A. M. -lellv, 1870-1874; Rev. Samuel E.' Webster. 1875-1880; Rev. Charles D. Xott. D. D., 1880- 1893; Rev. E. B. England. 1894-1903; Rev. Frederick W. Johnson, D. D.. 1903-1913; Rev. J. X. Wageiduirst 1913-. YELLOW FRAME. This church must have been organized about 1703 (for it called a pastor in 1764) and tradition has it that Rev. Wm. Tennent, Jr.. took ])art in the exercises. Before tlie division of the original Snssex County the County seat was at Johnsonsburg where the ^'ellow Frame church is located. Here was built the jail, and the place was named "Log ,)ail." 'J'here was a log church erected sonu' tinu' subse- (.|iu'nt to 1740 and the church was called rp|)er llardwick. 100 TTIK rUKST^VTEin OF XEWTOX In 1782 the township of Independence was set off from Hardwick. and the Hackettstown church, formerly known as Lower Hardwick. now took the name of "The First Presbyterian Church of Independence." Upper Hardwick, or Yellow F>ame was thereafter known simply as the Hard- Avick Church. Soon the subject of erectino a new house of worship was agitated'. Those livino in the lower part of the parish Avhere the old loo church was located near Dark ^loon Tav- ern, wished to retain that site. Those livini>- in the upper part preferred a site in Shaw's Lane. Thus arose a contro- versy which required the intervention of the Presbytery. The matter was settled finally. Presbytery sanctioned the change of site, and the Yellow Frame church has stood from that day to this in its present location. The deed for the lot containini; one and one-fifth acres, was dated July .1, 178o. The oiantor was Wm. Armstrong. The names of the trustees to whom the property was con- veyed were Ceorge Allen. Joseph riaston, Aaron Hankinson. ^^'m. Hankinson Alexander Linn, Joseph Reader, and Jolin Koy. The building Avas completed in 1780. During the pastorate of Mr. Boyd, a dancing school was started, and his preaching against it led to an unsettled state of aflfairs wliich resulted in dissolving the pastoral re- lation. His financial relations Avith the chiu'ch, hoAvever. re([uii-ed some years to ad]ust. April 28, 1818, the Presby- tery heard "'from one of its members that the First Pi-esby- terian fleeting House in HardAvick is advertised for public >ale by the SheritT of the county of Sussex, at the suit of the Kev. John Boyd for arrears of salary due him.'" The committee api)ointed to adjust the matter reported that "your committee find a sum due ^fr. Boyd from the con- gregation of HardAvick of one hundred forty-tAvo dollars an(l foity -seven cents." Later ^Ir. Boyd asked Presby- tery's ])ermission to sell his judgment against the church, which request Avas refused. By the year 1820, hoAvever, the affair seems to have been amicably settled, and Mr. Boyd ^\^\s dismissed to the Presbytery of Hudson. In 182;} the house of Elder Aaron Hazen was burned and with it the sessional records of the church. April 16. 1841. the congregation became incorporated as "The First Pres- byterian Churcji of Hardwick.'" THE PRESBYI'EPvY OF XE\VTO\ Id! 'J'lic same year the fOii