Celebration of the two hundredth anniversary, October 30th, 1888
 « -sS. « Si^ ^ ;Si ^ -Si !!S <§i <Ss.' ^. <§j SS js «««»»** « » * * <iSS s<^ !Si is. SS. >■«. >& •«. ^^ <Si. «Si ^i % ,«^^'^ ■'^ f '^:r" MiDDLKTOWN I'.Al'TIST ClUnCir, At tiiTie of its I3i-Centennitil. ]')K TuiiiD JIi:ktin(i IImuse. 1688 ^, 1888 CELEBRATION OF THE 1 Wo jiundreclth '^AnniN^ersary OF THF First Baptist Church, MiDDLETOWN, NEW JERSEY, October joth, i888. /// MacCrellish & Quigley, Practical Book and Job Printers, Trenton, N. J. ^^ Names of the Constituent Members of the First Baptist Church, Middletown, New Jersey. ORGANIZED IN THE WINTER OF 1688. Richard Stout, Jonathan Bowne, John Buchman, Walter Hall, Jonathan Holmes, William Cheeseman, William Compton, John Bowne, James Grover, John Stout. OB.A.DIAH Holmes, John Wilson, John Cox, George Mount, William Layton, John Ashton, James Grover, Jr., Thomas Whitlock. NumberTif Members October 30th, 1888, 223 /- ^. PASTOR, Rev. E. Everett Jones, A.M. DEACONS, James Frost, Charles Allen, James G. Taylor, James R Hopping, Church Clerk. At a Sabbath Morning Service held in the month of May, 1888, it was Voted — B3' this Church, that a Bi-Centennial Celebration beheld. ]'oted — ]Most cordiall}' and unanimously, that the New Jersey Baptist State Convention and New Jersey Baptist Education Society be invited to hold their Annual Meetings with us, on October 30th and 31st, 18SS, to join with us in celebrating our Bi-Centennial. Voted — That our Pastor, Rev. E. Everett Jones, and Brethren Charles Allen, James G. Taylor, Warren Conklin, James G. Hopping, Harvey Jenkins, Daniel Irwin and William Mount, be appointed a Committee of Arrangements for the Bi-Centennial Celebration, in connection with the Bi-Centennial Committee appointed by the New Jersey Baptist State Con- vention, consi-sting of Brethren I. C. W3'nn, O. P. Eaches, H. C. Apple- garth, T. E. Vassar, A. H. Sembower, and Addison Parker. At a subsequent meeting of the Bi-Centenuial Committee, the fol- lowing programme was adopted, presented and carried out, as out- lined in this Memorial \'olume. Order of Exercises. On Tuesday morning, October 3otli, 1888, the " New Jersey Bap- tist Education Society" held its Fifty-first Annual Meeting. Ad- dresses were made by Rev. E. F. Y. Pierce, Rev. Addison Parker, Dr. John Greene, and Dr. H. K. Trask. Tuesda)^ afternoon, at two o'clock, under the general auspices of the " New Jersey Baptist State Convention," in its Fifty-ninth Anni- versary, the Bi-Centennial and Memorial Exercises of the First Baptist Church, at Middletown, N.  M. Wtirdemann, of Washington, D. C, One of our Church Members. We praise our God for this glad day, That we may greet you face to face ; While heart and voice unite and say Welcome, thrice welcome, to this place. This Church, our home ! alike we love Its present good, its memories sweet ; So praise our God, while Saints above The welcome and the praise repeat. come. •Address of Welcome, . . . . IDy Qi-. Qi-Veretl ^ones, Pasto7- of the Aliddletoivn Chtirch. Brethren in Christ, and members of the two hundred Baptist Churches of New Jersey, as Pastor of this grand old patriarchal Church, and for my people, I extend to you Christian greeting, and bid you most cordial welcome to the old, historic spot, to our hospitalit}- , to our hearts and to our homes. We stand on sacred ground, thickly clustered with noble names and grand achievements. They tell us we are the old Mother Church, from whom eight daughter Churches have gone out, and are now as strong, as able, as ourselves ; but others tell us she is the mother of 17,000 or more Baptist Churches. Be that as it may, we are vividly reminded to-day of the gathering home of children and grandchildren on some festive Christmas-tide around the old homestead. Children and grandchildren are delighted, and the dear old faces of grandparents just simply beam with pleasure and delight over their happ}^ descendants. We are reminded of the gathering of the tribes to Jerusalem of old, at the great and joyous feasts of the Lord, when even the desert paths through the valley of Baca were as wells of refreshment for the J03' set before them. The old Church is joyous to-day in beholding what God hath wrought. The few have become the many, and the glory of God is in it. It is said that at the close of the war between France and Prussia, in 1866, the tri- umphant arm}' of Prussia came to Berlin for its reception and welcome. As each regiment approached the city gate from the Thiergarten, it was halted by a choir demanding by what right it would enter the oxty. The regiment replied in song, reciting the battles it had fought, the victories it had won ; then came a welcome from the choir, " Enter into the city." So came on regiment after regiment, reciting its deeds and victories, each challenged and welcomed in loud chorus. And then thej' marched on in triumph up the Linden, between rows of captured cannon, with the ban- ners they liad borne and the banners the}^ had taken, and all of them saluted the statue of grand old Frederick, the Creator of Prussia. So it seems to me to-day, the hosts of God's elect have gathered here to salute the grand old Mother Church, and with songs and tokens of victory are marching together, singing hallelujahs and laying their trophies at His feet who hath brought us off more than conquerors. Trusting these anniversary services may make strong and lasting impressions on the Church here, and on all the Churches represented, and may be far-reach- ing in their influences, far out beyond all our calculations, we bid you all again, most cordial welcome. ©pening 'Address, B}' P- W- Aye President of the Neiu Jersey Baptist State Convention. Historical Sketch 1^ OF THE FIRST BfiPTIST CHURCH OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW JERSEY. BY WHEELOCK H. PARMLY, D.D. Lord Macaulay has somewhere written, " A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants." This sentiment of Macaulay I fully adopt, and it will apply with equal force to individual Christians, and to Christian Churches. I adopt, also, another sen- timent, of the late David B. Stout, the once honored Pastor of the Middletown Church. He says : " He who studies history, lives twice — he lives in imagina- tion in the ages that preceded him, as well as in that in which his own frail life is fast ebbing away." We are making history, and this thought should inspire us so to live and act, that to others, who may read our history in future generations, it may appear that we served our own generation, both according to the will of God as well as to the best of our ability. In preparing, at your request, a brief historical sketch of the First Baptist Church at Middletown, I remark at the beginning, that I perceive that you have assigned me a difficult task, inasmuch as I am not a Bi-Centenarian, con- sequently can make no statements as to her ancient history, as an eye-witness ; neither was I ever anything in her history but, for a brief period, an humble and loyal member in her fold. But the task becomes more difficult inasmuch as there are in existence histories of this body, written by excellent and hon- ored brethren, which differ widely in many of their statements from each other. In considering these differences of statements, however, let us not judge too harshly, for when this Church was formed in theX'olony of New Jersey, the (9) lO element of religious toleration was not practiced as it is to-day. In England, whence most of the inhabitants emigrated, the people had been in a turmoil between Romanism and Protestantism for several scores of years. Charles I. had lost his head in 1649, by reason of his attempts at persecution, and the very year, 1688, when this Church takes its date, was that in which England passed the bill of the Protestant succession to the throne ; while on the Conti- nent, Louis XIV committed, in 1685, one of the greatest mistakes ever recorded in the history of France. By the edict of Nantes, published by Henry IV in 1598, the terrible persecution of the Huguenots ceased, and for eighty-seven years their increase and prosperity were amazing in every respect. But by the revocation of that edict in 1685, oppression and persecution overreached them- selves, and 400,000 of the most industrious, the most intelligent, and the most religious citizens of the nation of France, with all their skill and influence of every kind, fled from their native homes like frightened sheep, to find safety in this and other Colonies, rather than submit to the tyranny of Romanism. During such a period, and amid such various influences, arose this Mother Church. That difi'erences of opinion should exist under such circumstances, is not to be wondered at. The wonder really is that so much that we can rely upon has been preserved. And it is a matter of devout gratitude that, notwith- standing all the conflicting statements that from time to time have been made, there exist certain general facts, so well authenticated that all persons can and ought fully to agree in sustaining them. Among them are the following : 1. The Baptist historian, David Benedict, in his history, pp. 581-2, states on the authority of Morgan Edwards that about the year 1660 some few Baptists were found among the first settlers, and by difi'erent arrivals they continued to increase very slowly for about thirty years, and that about that time, that is in 1688, the First Baptist Church in Middletown was formed. While all, so far as my examination has gone, readily acknowledge the exist- ence of the Church at this time, there are some like the historian, Morgan Edwards, who, in his "Materials towards a History of the Baptists in New Jersey," published in 1792, while recognizing the complete formation of 1688, claim that there was an incomplete formation in 1068. He uses the following language : " For the origin of this Church — of 1688 — we must look back to the year 1667, for that was the year when Middletown was purchased from the Indians by twelve men and twenty-four associates. Their names were in the town book. Of these the following were Baptists, viz.: " 1. Richard Stout. " 2. Jonathan Bowne. " 3. John Buchman. " 4. Walter Hall. II "5. Jonathan Holmes. "6. William Cheeseman. "7. William Compton. " 8. John Bowne. " 9. James Grover. " 10. John Stout. " 11. Obadiah Holmes. " 12. John Wilson. " 13. John Cox. " 14. George Mount. " 15. William Layton. " 16. John Ashton. " 17. James Grover, Jr. " 18. Thomas Whitlock. " It is probable," lie continues, " that some of the above had wives of their way of thinking. However, the aforesaid eighteen men were the constituents of the Church of Middletown, and the winter of 1668 the time." " Much of the early history of this ancient Church is wrapt in obscurity on account of the absence of faithful records of their organization. Benedict, for instance, dates their origin to 1667, and from the identity of names found upon the town book, and from the list of Church members, he concludes that the Baptists were among the first settlers of the town. Hence, it is highly probable that from the above date, 1667, until 1688 they were occasionally per- mitted to enjoy the Gospel from itinerant ministers, as well as frequent meet- ings for prayer and exhortation by brethren from their midst." From the most careful examination of Benedict and Backus and Armitage and all the other authorities living or dead which I liave been able to consult, I have seen nothing to conflict with these statements, both as to the dates and the origin and the constituents of this venerable Church. There are, indeed, minor differences as to the spelling of names and the per- sonality of individuals, but no difi^erences of suflicient importance to prevent us from receiving these statements as we ordinarily receive the history of ancient events or of poetry or science. In the excellent history of the Holmdel Church, prepared by Rev. Thomas S. Griffiths, I find the following language, wliich is but a confirmation of the statement made : " Tlie Middletown Church had, in its beginning, two centres in the township of Middletown, at each of which the Baptist settlers predomi- nated, where they erected meeting-houses, worshiping and transacting the Church business in them alternately. One of these was the village of Middle- town, the other was Baptisttown, or the Academy. Baptisttown fitly desig- 12 nated its religious type. It was a Baptist settlement. Each place and assembly is designated in the Church records. That at Baptisttown as the ' Upper Meeting House,' and the congregation as the ' Upper Congregation,' and that at Middletown village as the ' Lower Meeting House,' and the congregation as the ' Lower Congregation.' These congregations were absolutely one, sharing equally in the responsibility and privileges of the Church." All these facts, which are either admitted or implied by the writers I have named, are conclusive evidence that there was a bod}' of Baptists in Middle- town who were united in sentiment ; whose organization was more or less complete after 1668 ; whose membership covered a territory that now comprises Monmouth, Ocean, Mercer and a part of Middlesex counties ; that it embraced men of wealth and talent and influence ; that John Bowne, James Ashton, Richard Stout, Jonathan Holmes and others conducted worship among them. In what places in this vast territory they preached, and whether these brethren were ordained or unordained, are questions of small importance. They settled themselves, as all agree, in 1688, into a complete Church state, holding their worship unitedly in two separate sanctuaries. Near the close of the century they fell into a quarrel and divided into two factions, so that in 1712 we find them in great difficulty. Schism and discord, bitterness and wrangling, seemed likely to rend the body. Under these painful circumstances they agreed to call in and abide by the advice of a council. The names of the members of it were Timothy Brooks, Abel Morgan, Joseph Wood, Elisha Thomas, Nicholas Johnson, James James, Griffith Miles, Edward Church, William Betridge and John Manners. Their report is recorded at length on the Church book, and is a document of singular importance and interest. It commences thus : " With respect to the present state and condition of the Church of baptized believers, yearly meeting at Middletown and Crosswicks and adjacent places in East Jersey, we, the associated Ministers and messengers sent from the Churches of the same faith and order in divers other places, being met at the above- named Middletown, May 24th, 25th and 26th, 1712. ' They advised them to bury all former disputes and contentions, to erase all the records in reference to them, and to subscribe to Elias Keach's Pastor's Confession of Faith and Church Covenant thereto annexed.' " In accordance with this advice four leaves were cut out of the Church records. Happy results followed the advice of this council, and peace and harmony were restored. James Bolen, the former Clerk of Monmouth county, was unanimously elected Clerk of the Church. The membership at that time was 66. And it is a remarkable fact, creditable alike both to Pastors and peo- ple, that during all their history of two hundred years this is the only advisory council of which there is any record. 13 And now having settled, so far as I believe we can confidently settle, from any documents now in our possession, the origin and constitution, as well as the history, of this venerable Church up to the year 1712, let us pursue its remarkable subsequent history; and it is but justice here to notice that the ancient Church record-book, the only one they ever had, is in itself an interest- ing relic. It is a well-preserved ledger, bound in vellum, The first record is headed thus: "At ye yearly meeting May ye 24th Anno Dom 1712." But, carefully as this book has been preserved, with the four leaves cut out at that time by the advice of the council, we have no other authentic history preserved by the Church of an earlier date. Consequently, the historian must depend either on subsequent records or tradition or on the memory of individuals for any subsequent statements he may make ; and, without intending any reflection, either upon the living or the dead, and perhaps at the risk of severe criticism, after a careful examination I am compelled to pronounce the minutes exceed- ingly meagre, as furnishing a full and reliable history. And here I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to Rev. David B. Stout, Eev. T. S. Griffiths, Rev. E. J. Foote and Hon. Edwin Salter, whose sketches have all been quoted by me. To others, also, who have furnished information, I return thanks once for all. I shall not farther quote them by name, but give my deliberate conclusions from whatever sources they may be drawn. 1. The first Pastor after the council was Rev. John Burrowes, who was elected in 1713. He subscribed with his own hand to Elias Reach's confession of faith and covenant. He is reported to have come from Somersetshire, in England, to have been a successful Minister, and to have remained with them the rest of his life. 2. The next Pastor was Rev. George Eaglesfield, who was elected in 1731, and continued to preach among them till his death, in 1733. We have no other record of him than this. 3. The next Pastor was Rev. Abel Morgan, A. M., who was chosen Pastor in 1738, and who continued his ministry among them till his death, in 1785, the longest Pastorate and, probably, the most gifted Minister the Church ever had. So much has already been justly written, and so much more will be said on this occasion, about this faithful servant of God, that I shall make but a few quotations from others about him in this paper. In the the old Church book already referred to, we find the following record at the time of his death : "The Rev. Mr. Abel Morgan was born in the State of Delaware, April the 18th, 1713. He departed this life Nov. the 2-ith, 1785, near 6 o'clock in the afternoon, in the township of Middletown, county of Monmouth, State of New Jersey." He was one of the strong men of his da}^ pre-eminently prepared for the arduous pioneer work, which in that early history of the country he was called to per- 14 form. He laid broad and deep the foundations of truth, and to the labors of such men are to be attributed, under God, the prosperity and success which, as a denomination, we are permitted to enjoy. His Ministry was faithful and pungent. In labors he was abundant, as a friend he was affectionate and con- fiding, and his memory will ever be fragrant among all the lovers of our Holy Religion. I have not been able, for the want of records, to ascertain the num- ber he baptized, but I have no doubt that it was quite large. He gave by will to the Church, for the use of the Pastor, his library, which consisted of many rare and valuable works — valuable because of their antiquity, some of the volumes being three hundred years old. As our Brother, Rev. E. J. Foote, in his sketch of Abel Morgan, written in 1883, furnished a correct list of this valuable library I shall spend no time in describing it. He preached more than 5,000 sermons during his Pastorate at Middletown, and left manuscript preparations for the pulpit, all dated and numbered, amounting to 10,000. He was a won- derful man in every respect. The excellent Samuel Jones, D.D., of lower Dublin, in his century sermon before the Philadelphia Association, preached October 6th, 1807, speaking of the Middletown Pastors, describes him as " the incomparable Abel Morgan," while Edwards says of him, " He was not a custom divine nor a leading string divine, but a Bible divine." 4. The next Pastor was Rev. 5. The next Pastor was Rev. Benjamin Bennet. He took the oversight of the Church in 1792. " He was a man of energy and enterprise. His preaching was said to be above mediocrity." He continued his labors with the Church until 1815, when he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the United States, in which office he served until 1819. Consequently, his connection with the Church as Pastor was dissolved. During his ministry of twenty-three years he baptized fifty persons. He died on October 8th, 1840, and was buried near Holmdel. 6. The next Pastor was Rev. Augustine Eliot, who for about two years ministered to the Church, and during that time was permitted to baptize nine- teen persons. 15 Then it appears succeeded a period when they were pastorless, and they so reported themselves to their Association (the New York Baptist Association), in 1820. But meantime, I judge, they were served by acceptable supplies, and among them a beloved Brother Hand, who had not yet been ordained, but whose labors among them were blessed. 7. Afterwards there succeeded to the pastorate, in 1822, Rev. William King, whose term of service continued for three years, during which time he bap- tized thirty persons. But this man proved himself a bad Shepherd, and left the Church very suddenly. The same man was reported to the New York Association, in 1829, from the Cayuga (N. Y.) Association, as an impostor, and I presume was at that time deposed from the ministry. 8. The next Pastor was the excellent Thomas Roberts, who was elected to this office in 1825. The account which this Brother gives in his autobiography (p. 36) of his settlement with the Church is most interesting. I will here quote a few sentences from an interview held at this time at the " Upper House," now Holmdel, between Judge Jehu Patterson, for many years a pillar in the Middletown Church, and himself on this subject. The Judge had asked him whether he would be willing to settle with them as Pastor. Mr. Roberts' reply was characteristic. He writes: " I told him that such was my love of peace and harmony among brethren that I could neither labor nor live where they were absent. Judge Patterson replied that all their disagreement was concern- ing Mr. King, and went on to say, ' This imposture is evident and is becoming more so every day, so that soon all will be convinced of the deplorable fact.' As he said, so it came to pass, and all were happy to know that their King had fled, and glad to see the good old Baptist republic restored to the ancient Church." Can any one wonder that with a Pastor of such a spirit, even though he served a Church worshiping in two large, separate sanctuaries, and covering a territory of at least twenty miles in diameter, they should dwell together as Pastor and people for twelve whole years in the most perfect harmony and unity ? This is, in part at least, explained by his immediate successor, Rev. David B. Stout, who says of him: " Mr. Roberts' labors were not in vain in the Lord ; he baptized during his ministry one hundred and forty-five persons. He lived in the affections of his people, his praise is in all the Churches of the saints, and his memory will long be cherished by all Christians." When he parted with the Church, their next letter to the ^Association, in 1837, after they had settled his successor, contains the following reference to it: *' We parted with one of the best of men and one whom we dearly loved." This state of things is farther explained by himself in his autobiography (pp. 39, 40), where he speaks of the wonderfnl brotherly love and unanimity which has marked i6 their history, and then asks the suggestive question, " May not the influence of this Mother Church, in her early days, when that eminent man of God, Abel Morgan, presided over her, under God, be among the influences that has brought about this happy state of things ? " Can there be more than one, and that an affirmative, answer to such a question ? On the same page ot this auto- biography he makes the following remarkable statement : " During the whole time I served this beloved Church, I have no recollection of one unpleasant circumstance to mar our happiness as a Church. The membership maintained a circumspect deportment, letting their light shine endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, and God was glorified in them.'' I speak in part from personal knowledge when I say that I think it no injustice when I place Thomas Eoberts second only to Abel Morgan, as a Pastor of this venerable Church. 9. The next Pastor was David B. Stout, who was unanimously chosen on April 1st, 1837, and never, perhaps, was a Church more blessed than this Church in making such a selection. He came to them from Lambertville, New Jersey, in the strength of mature manhood, with five years of experience, and for a period of thirty-eight years went in and out before the people as a workman who needed not to be ashamed. The first letter of the Church to the Associa- tion after his settlement in 1837, contained this sentence: " We are all united in our new Pastor, Brother D. B. Stout." That was the keynote of his long and successful pastorate. We have now followed the history of this Mother Church and her Pastors to a period when many of the living can speak from personal knowledge and experience, and none can successfully deny that David B. Stout, while natur- ally of a modest and retiring disposition, yet possessed a most genial spirit. He loved men, and was thoroughly devoted to his life-work. Surrounded at the time of his seitlement by a Church of 154 members true and faithful, he knew how so to improve his opportunity that in a few mouths, by the grace of God, he witnessed a most powerful revival. During the year 1838 he baptized 76 persons into the Church. That j'ear the work became so great that he called to his aid Rev. Frederick Ketchum, a recent graduate from Hamilton Theolog- ical Seminary, who afterwards became a most useful evangelist, both in New Jersey and in the West. The whole surrounding region, including Red Bank and Shrewsbury, where there was no Baptist Church at that time, was entirely changed by that work of grace. The late Dr. Greenleaf S. Webb, then Pastor in the city of New Brunswick, described that work, iu the writer's presence, as filling the whole region from Middletown to Burlington, N. J., with the power of saving truth. Pastor Stout continued his almost indefatigable labors till, in 1851, he was permitted to baptize 236 converts into the Church, and the 17 membership increased to 567— the highest number ever reported by the (Church. He makes the following report of that great revival in 1851 : " The hearts of professors were broken and melted in love ; brethren went everywhere, talk- ing and praying with the unconverted, and what seemed the more remarkable was, that wherever they went the Spirit of God had been there before them. It has been supposed that upon an area of five miles around the Church, not less than 500 persons were converted during that period." The largest number of baptisms by Mr. Stout at any one time was 82, on the 12th of January, and it was performed with ease, and without haste, in thirty-eight minutes. A large proportion of the converts were adults, and the larger number of them were males. From the excellent statistical report of Rev. E. J. Foote, seemingly the best statistical report that has come to hand, I learn that during the thirty-eight years of Mr. Stout's ministry he baptized into the Church 661 members. From the same report I learn that from the year 1809 to 1837 other ministers bap- tized 196, and that Mr. Foote baptized during his ministry from 1875 to 1883 63 persons. Added to these, as reported by Rev. D. B. Stout, must be 65 bap- tized by Rev. Samuel Morgan between 1785 and 1792, and 50 that were baptized by Rev. Benjamin Bennet after 1792, making an aggregate of 1,030 baptisms between 1785 and 1883. To this number we are glad to report and add baptisms — by Rev. E. J. Foote, 63 ; by Rev. F. A. Douglass, 13 ; by Rev. E. Everett Jones, 26 ; total, 102. This last number (102), added to the 1030, makes an aggregate of baptisms into this Church as reported between the years 1785 and 1888, 1132. In this reckoning, on account of the imperfect records, we leave out all the baptisms which were administered during the 97 years which preceded the ministry of Rev. Samuel Morgan. In the sketch of the Church, by Hon. Edwin Salter, of New Jersey, pub- lished in 1888, he reports that during Mr. Stout's pastorate "he had attended and oflficiated at over 600 funerals, and that, at the time of his decease, of the 206 members connected with the Church he had received all but one male and twelve females." The same author closes his sketch of Mr. Stout's ministry with the following truthful and appropriate tribute to the Rev. Mr. Stout : " He was a large-hearted and noble Christian gentleman, and, while an earnest adherent to his own faith, his loving soul called every man his brother who accepted an evangelical belief in the Saviour. His funeral services were held in the Church, which was filled to repletion. The carriages must have numbered one hundred and fifty," and, as reported to the present writer (who could not attend), it was the largest funeral ever witnessed in Middletown. 2 i8 10. The immediate successor of Rev. David B. Stout was Rev. E. J. Foote, who was called from Red Bank, and on January 2d, 1876, took up the work which Mr. Stout had so recently laid down. He brought with him the experi- ence of rich, abundant and successful labors in many fields of toil, and for a period of eight years went in and out faithfully before this people, gathering in the sheaves which infinite love should send him. During that period the Lord gave him souls for his hire, and permitted him to baptize 63 persons into the Church, and then by His providence showed him another field, where he is still successfully engaged for his blessed Master. In 18S.T he removed to Trenton, N. J. 11. To Mr. Foote succeeded Rev. Frederick A. Douglass, who was installed as Pastor on December 20th, 1883. He brought to this field a long experience, both as a Pastor at home and as a Missionary in foreign lands, and used all according to the best of his ability. The Lord gave him as seals to his minis- try thirteen converts, whom he baptized into the Church. After three years of faithful labor, he closed his pastorate on December 31st, 18S6. ^•^2. The present Pastor, Rev. ETlEIvefett Jones, commenced his ministry here on April 1st, 1887. He was no novice when he began, for the Lord had blessed his labors in other pastorates. He has continued to own them in this com- munity to a remarkable degree, large congregations attend upon the ministry \ of the Word, the Church are united and harmonious, and God has granted / him since his settlement as seals to his ministry 26 souls, whom he has bap- tized into the Church. Besides these, and placing a baptistery within these hallowed walls, and many other things worthy of mention here, the beasts have reason to bless him and this congregation, for during the past year they have done a new thing under the sun, that is, they have purchased a lot of ground adjoining this Sanctuary for one thousand dollars, and upon it have erected 24 new sheds for the horses — a thing which should have been done at any time within the last 200 years. If you would see other evidences of improvement about this Mother Church, look around you. This Church has also been active in forming other Churches, either wholly or in part. In 1715, the Baptist Church at Hopewell, Mercer county, was organized from members who had previously emigrated from the First Church in Middletown. This Church became a very powerful and influential body, and so continued until about 1814, when it fell under the withering influence of antinomianism. Following this, in 1745, the Hightstown Church took its rise from this body. It was first called the Cranbury Church, but for many years past has been one of the most efficient bodies in this State, and has herself become the mother of several other ('hurches. 19 The next Church was Holmdel, which was really a division of this Church, and became necessary by reason of the large growth of the body. In 1836, 52 members were dismissed and became an independent Church. Their history has been one of progress ever since their recognition. Four years later, that is, in 1840, Keyport took its rise out of this Church, 11 members having been dismissed from her to constitute that body. Before this, in the order of time, that is, in 1766, a flourishing Church was formed in Crosswicks from this body, which is now known as the Upper Free- hold Church. In 1844 this Church dismissed 11 members, which, with others, were consti- tuted the First Baptist Church of Shrewsbury, located at Red Bank. Nine years later, in 1853, 54 members were dismissed for the purpose of form- ing a Baptist Church at Riceville, now known as the Second Baptist Church of Middletown. And the next year, 1854, 64 members were dismissed to consti- tute the Baptist Church at Port Monmouth. In addition to these (8) already named, it is but just to mention the Baptist Churches at Matawan, and Eatontown, and Atlantic Highlands and Long Branch, for all these young Churches owe more or less for their existence and present prosperity to this Mother Church, and yet she stands to-day in the midst of her children and grandchildren, strong in membership, integrity and power, a remarkable evidence of the sustaining grace of God, as well as a proof of the truth of the Scripture, "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth." But while so engaged in prosecuting her general work of preaching the Gospel, this venerable Church has not been idle in the particular work to which t believe every Church should be devoted, and that is, in raising up men to preach the Gospel. During her long history we find several names of brethren who have been called, and probably licensed, by the Church to preach, but whether they were all ordained as Pastors is a question, for there is a lack of historic proof. Such names in her early history are those of — 1. John Brown. 2. James Ashton, put down by some as the first Pastor. 3. John Bray. They were probably all Licentiates and Lay Preachers, but not ordained Ministers. 4. John Occason was called to ordination by the Church in 1667, and preached throughout this extended field for about 45 years. 5. James Carman, who was baptized in 1692, was an ordained Minister, and preached at Cranbury, now Hightstown, and other Churches, till the time of his death, at about 79 years of age. 6. Samuel Morgan, the fourth Pastor, was called and ordained by this Church in 1785. 20 7. John Cook was licensed by the Church in 1789, and then removed to Vir- ginia, and was lost sight of by the Church. Then occurred about 50 years when there is no record of license. 8. Samuel Sproul was licensed in 1839. He devoted himself to the pastorate of several Churches, chiefly in New Jersey, with great faithfulness and success, and died in the midst of his labors, at Schooley's Mountain, New Jersey, July 26th, 1880, aged 68 years. 9. Kelsey Walling was licensed and sent out by the Church in 1851, and is still in the field, an active and useful Preacher of the Gospel. Besides these (9) there have been and are many others who, although not actually licensed by, yet owe a vast debt of gratitude to this Church for benefits received from her as members while they were pursuing their studies preparing for the ministry. Among these was Jackson Smith, who was a bright youth, but who, after careful study, abundant preparation, and a few years' labor as Pastor of the Churches at Lyons' Farms, Keyport and Princeton, in this State, was early and mysteriously called to his reward in heaven. Thomas S. Grif- fiths, who became the first Pastor at Red Bank and who is still doing valiant service among the Churches in this State. Wheelock H. Parmly, of Jersey City, who, while preparing for college, was a member of this Church and after- wards was licensed by the Amity Street Baptist Church, in New York city, under the pastorate of Rev. William R. Williams, D.D., LL.D. Thus have we briefly and imperfectly sketched a few items in the history of a Church whose life runs back to near the settlement of this country ; a history which embraces all the wars through which this nation has passed ; a history of a Church which, throughout, has preserved its faith and integrity untar- nished, and which, if justice were done, it would require a volume to describe. If this brief sketch shall aid in the instruction and elevation of the present generation, as well as in giving a more perfect knowledge than we have hith- erto possessed of this venerable Mother Church, my end shall be answered and to God shall be all the glory. 21 The Bi-&ntennial (Jhurcli, Tlynin; By Robert UowVy, I).!). ( Written expressly for the occasion.) Sung by the whole congregation standing. O, Lord, Thou art our living head ; What precious grace our life has crowned ! We seek Thy courts with reverent tread, And stand as if on holy ground. Two hundred years ! O, who can tell The battles fought, the victories won ? Though men who bore the standard fell, The}' passed it on from sire to son. Our feet are where the fathers trod. Our lips recount their deeds of love ; As they were true to Truth and God, So we will follow them above. All blessed and triumphant they Who dropped the sword for palm and crown ; The godly cease ; but we to-day Take up the work which they laid down. Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place In all the generations gone ; Uphold us, till we see Thy face When breaks on earth the heavenl}^ dawn. Prayer was then offered by Rev. Dr. Symmes, late Moderator of the Synod of New Jersey (Presbyterian). The commemoration anthem, composed by Robert Lowry, D.D., was then sung by the choir. (Commemoration Antherq, . . . JVlusic by l|)r. LfoWry. For Thou, O, God, hast heard ui)' vows : Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear Thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life; and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God forever : O, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto Thy name forever. Amen. — Psalms, 6i : ^-8. "Address, .... loy Jloq. jloratio (i^ates IJones. The Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, of Philadelphia, a third cousin of the Rev. Abel Morgan, and who brought with him an oil portrait of that famous former Pastor, was then introduced, and made the following address as to the life and work of his ancestral relative, and his great joy at the privilege of being present at this memorial service : Mr. President and Brethren — I feel myself highly honored in hav- ing been invited to participate in your Bi-Centennial Services. But you have given me more honor than I deserve, for I am not, as your President announced, a lineal descendant of Rev. Abel Morgan, as he had no descend- ants, for he was a bachelor. Still I claim to be the only living relative of Mr. Morgan present on this occasion. He was a cousin of m}- grand- father, Rev. David Jones, the Revolutionary chaplain, who spent several years of his youth in this place, and studied divinitj^ with his cousin. He also did something else, and this he did not learn of your eminent Pastor. While here he fell in love, and like the majority of 3^oung divinity students, as soon as he was ordained he was married by Mr. Morgan to Miss Anne Stillwell , one of whose ancestors was descended from the famous Obadiah Holmes. So that to-day I feel flowing in my veins the blood of W^i/Oy^ Vriddleto-'A'n, N. J, IPcistor 4:T years. 23 the brave hero who suffered for hi.s religious principles upon BovSton Common, in 1651. As your Church and Pennypack, Piscataway, Cohan- sey and Welsh Tract were the five which formed the Philadelphia Associ- ation in 1707, I was accompanied here by the Rev. James W. Willmarth, of the Roxborough Church, who is the Moderator of the Association. We felt that, as officers of our Association, it was our duty as well as privilege to show our regard for j^our venerable Church. So much has been said bj^ Dr. Parmley and will be said by Dr. Baches, that I need not give you to-day any historical facts, and I might now, with propriety, take my seat. But I feel that I must say a few words about Mr. Morgan, to whose memory your Church has erected a beautiful monument, soon to be unveiled. He was a devout man, a scholar of very considerable learning, an earnest preacher of the blessed Gospel and a powerful Minister. He was beloved b}^ his people, respected b}' his brethren, and honored during all his life by the Philadelphia Association. He believed and practiced what he preached. Although he was a thor- ough Welshman by descent, yet he never attacked others who differed from him, from the mere love of theological disputation. But if the doc- trines of the Bible w^ere misrepresented, his spirit was roused at once, and he buckled on his armor and contended most earnestl}' for the faith once delivered to the saints. This occurred most conspicuously when he pub- lished his two learned books against the Rev. Samuel Finley, D.D., after- wards the President of Princeton College, the ancestor of the celebrated Samuel F. B. Morse. All who have read those books must admit that Dr. Finley found in Mr. Morgan a foeman worthy of his steel. Mr. President, we do not live in the past, nor in the future, but in the ever-living and changing present, surrounded at all times by new duties and extraordinary events. We may, however, learn much from the past, and if we are wise we shall do so. As we do thus look back and trace the onward progress made in science, literature, the arts and the study of the Bible, we can devoutly thank God and take courage, for we feel that, despite all the attacks made against the precious truths of the Gospel, the gates of hell will not prevail. When two centuries shall have rolled away into the vast ocean of eternit}^ may we not believe, judging from the past history of this Church, that amid all the advances in the varied departments of life, our people will still cherish the same love that we do for God and the truths contained in this blessed volume which he has given us. 24 " Who'll press for gold the crowded street, Two hundred years to come ? Who'll tread these aisles with pious feet, Two hundred years to come ? Pale, trembling age and fiery youth, And childhood with its brow of truth. The young and old, on land and sea, Where will the countless people be Two hundred years to come ? " We all within our graves shall sleep Two hundred years to come : No living soul for us will weep Two hundred years to come ; But others then our lands will till, And others then these seats will fill, And others here will preach and pray — But, the same Gospel as to-day. Two hundred years to come." 25 Historical Sketch OF THE INCREASE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BAPTISTS OR, Two Hundred Years of New Jersey Baptist History. BY O. P. EACHES, D.D. A GLANCE AT THE TIMES. In 1688, it was not the State of New Jersey, but the Provinces of East and West Jersey. William and Mary were upon the English throne. Not a thought of separation from the mother land had ever come to the minds of the new settlers. The records of the Dividing Creek Church contain in full the King's proclamation of October 31st, 1760. The Association, in 1769, when considering a petition to the King for the relief of the suffering Baptist brother- hood in New England, calls him " Our Gracious Sovereign." The Baptists were loyal to Christ and to the Crown. The population of the two provinces could not have been over 5,000. In 1740 it was only 40.000. The remains of Indian tribes were in the provinces. In 1745, Brainerd was giving his saintly life to them. In the records of the Upper Freehold Church, founded in 1766, are these words, giving a glimpse into the olden times: " The first of that way (meaning the way of Christ) was one James Ashton, the eldest son of James Ashton, Baptist Minister at Middletown, who came here to Crosswicks, which was then a wild and unsettled place, but possessed with the Indians in great abundance." In New England, King Philip's Indian War had closed but a few years before. The news of the glorious revolution in England, whereby despotism and papal supremacy had been driven away in the person of James, 26 perhaps had not gladdened the hearts of the Baptist fathers when thej^ laid the foundation of the Middletown Church. John Bunyan, about five years before, had published the " Pilgrim's Progress." Milton, about twenty years before, had published his " Paradise Lost." Sir Isaac Newton, at this time, was establishing the theory of gravitation. A few Baptist people on this side of the ocean were giving to the world great moral discoveries in building up a community where the conscience was unbound. The revocation of the Edict of Nantes took place three years before, whereby France put upon herself a curse that has lasted two centuries, and sent to this country those Huguenot families, the Stelles and Runyons and Ganos, by whose presence the Baptist Churches of this State have been enriched. Baxter and Dryden and Pascal and John Locke were living. 