The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-07-25
Cranbury.

:
town and Jamesburg, is one of tbs fairest illus
trations of primeval settlement developed in
legitimate forms into community Well titled
farms, distinct alike from the overgrown thou
sands OF acres attached to one mans name and
one mans purse in the west, and the half dozen
in the east, where man skimps out life for him
self and family by skimping the acres, the
farms are of size to give femunerative occu-
patton to a man and his family with hired
man or two when the occasion demands it, but
who can be got along without if the exigencies
require.
village has naturally grown out of its cen
tre and its centre has naturally located itself by
that portion of its water course which has been
found suitable for mill. Stores have followed
the mill, mechanics have come on after tie
stores, churches have come into life coeval with
them, and a higher morality than the average
has permeated the community they influenced
Away back in the antiquities of New Jersey the
| first Presbyterian church of Cranbury was
formed which lived along the years the open
conservator of public morals and the acknowl-
edged instructor of theological belief. The pub
lie opinion which it generated was stronger than
courts and more forceful than police, while its
sentiment was an almost certain guide for jury.
As a consequence of this there was as was said
above, higher morality than the average
the natural result. In the lapse of time the
church became too small forts worshippers and
larger one was built, which, if we have gotten
its history correctly was replaced again by still
another and larger. This also was not sufficient
for the increasing numbers and an additional
house was erected at the other extremity of the
village which also was soon filed with a perma-
nent congregation, and the two societies have
gone forward with apparently but one heart and
one mind in doing the great work given them by
their founder of ''good will to men,"
| The pastor first in the recollection of the writ
er extending back to forty years ago was Rev.
Mr.. Henry, one of the wsest men whom it was
ever the good fortune of the writer to know. A
sweet, persuasive preacher, whose correspond
ence was suave and gentle manner he flashed
/ through both discourse and manner an electric
al force which made it impossible to disregard
him. There was no man in the entire commun-
ity so looked up" to as Mr.. Henry, and few
men ever exercised so large an amount of influ-
enee in wiser and better way. The ecclesias-
ticism has run in the family. His father was a
preacher, his son is pastor of Appointment church
lin Philadelphia, his daughter married Rev. DIR.
Symmes, who has been for a number of years
pastor of the same church which was during
long lifetime her fathers only pastorate, and she
has a son who, with fair promise of large use
fulness, has consecrated his life and is directing
his education in the work of gospel ministry.
DR.. Symmes is man of strong force among
the people and also in his denomination of whose
synod he has been a moderator. Gifted with a
full, clear voice and ready expression his pulpit
services are attractive, and pastoral oversight
holds the advantages which these services have
gained. There has never been any question
about the clearness of his temperance sentiment.
While there was an amount of carefulness which
prevented the destruction of the limited belief
which existed originally among the people,
there was an ultimate height to which that be-
lief was to be brought of which he never lost the
sight. So thoroughly has this been recognized
that the New Jersey State Temperance Alliance,
comprehending almost all the temperance forces
of the state, and accepting its policy from the
commission of the churches, unanimously Sc
lected him to replace president the loss it had
sustained in the resignation of DR.. Altman,
whose broken health rendered it impossible to
continue longer service whose value, while ap-
preciated now, will be still more highly appre-
ciated when the developments of the future shall
show how wise was the work he planned and
how true.
The pastor of the second church is Rev. Mr..
Vandyke, who for a number of years past has
occupied with increasing usefulness that position.
One of the most tireless of hard students he has
accreted theological and literary knowledge
until he has received its well-earned recognition
in doctorate of divinity. Of metaphysical
turn of mind he has loved to linger among the
scientists, studying the abstrusites of intellect
ually microscopical subtleties until he has been
able to recognize their feebleness, and when ap-
piled in opposition to religion to confute them.
Usually metaphysicians are the dryest of pulpit
speakers, but in Mr.. Vandyke this tendency is
accompanied with tenderness which saturates
it with feeling and makes its rugged strength
pleasure. He is also an author whose books
have attained a considerable circulation. "From
Gloom to Gladness" and From the Prison to
the Throne have found more than average
circulation in the religious world. and will con-
tinue to receive it no doubt after their author has
passed away. He is now engaged upon another
work in combination of modern application of
possible philosophical facts in opposition to re-
ligion, which promises to take rank among the
literature of the age and remain as part of its