The Lambertville record., 1888-11-07
New jersey Baptast State oonventlon.

the Church at Middletown, In connection
with the bi-centennial celebration of that
on Tuesday and Wednesday Of
last week. Liberal preparations had
been made for the meetings, and as
there was large gathering of people
some 1,500--it required wise planning
to accommodate SO many, but Pastor f.
E. Jones and his efficient aids were fully
equal to the task and all we're grandly
Tuesday morning, at 9 o'clock, the
Society convened, the ven-
erable Dr.. W. 81. Parmly, of Jersey
City, in the chair. The reports of the
Treasurer and the Secretary were pre-
sented and both showed that the past
year had been very good one. Twenty
eight young men had been aided in their
studies, and their personal testimonies
confirmed the fact that the liberality Of
the Society had been we'll placed. In
the discussion of the reports it was
plainly evident that the time had come
when the Board should widen it's field,
so that worthy women as we'll as men
could receive aid in pursuing course
of study, especially those women who
purpose to devote themselves to the
work of missions. A committee was
appointed to consider the matter.
In the afternoon the bi-centennial
proper began. Long before the hour of
meeting the house was filled and hum
dreds stood outside. On the platform
had been placed the chair in which Abel
Morgan sat in his study, and the spec
tacles that he used. and most venerable
of all was the communion service used
on that spot 220 years ago. Before the
pulpit desk was fine oil copy Of por-
trait of Abel Morgan, painted from life.
From the historical sketch Of the Mid
dletown Church, prepared and read by
DIR. Parmly, the following facts were
cleaned
Church constituted 1888. Had preach
ing occasionally by visiting brethren,
until 1712, when the Church OF &C mem
bers called Rev. John Burroughs, the
first regular pastor, who served the
Church until 1871, when George Eagles
field succeeded him, continuing pastor,
however, but two years. In 1913 Abe
Morgan, born in 1713, in the State ol
Delaware, of Welsh parents. became
pastor, and continued in the Office until
his death, in 1885. He preached more
than 5000 sermons and left behind TO-
900 manuscripts upon various subjects
He was voluminous writer. greal
student and remarkable preacher. Ii
his will he bequeathed his library to. the
Middletown Church, for the use of iti
pastors, forever The books are still il
use, and stand upon the shelves pre-
pared for them in the. new parsonage re-
Gently built. After Morgan's death foul
pastors served the Church unto the
period of 1926, when Thomas Robert
became pastor. He was much beloved
and remained twelve years, when hi'
health failed and he relinquished preach
ing. An incident of the meeting wa
the presence of his son, now 80 years o
age, who came forward and told hoy
abundant the grogshops were during
the pastorate Of his father and how sue
cessfully he strove to suppress them
Thomas Roberts baptized l45. In til
letter to the Association in 1887 the,
say, We parted with one of The bes
OF men," April 1st. 1887, David B
Stout, of Lambertyille, assumed pastora
charge OF the Church. In their first let
ter to the Association after his settle
ment l find this expression, /" We ar
all united in our pastor" About th'
time of his coming the anti.missionar.
spirit began to crop out. The circula
letter OF the Central Association minute
of 1889 is upon this great question.
was evident that wise leadership woul
be essential to safe guidance Of th
Churches in those dangerous times. Bu
Brother Stout was equal to the occasion
and by his firm stand for, and clear ut
terances of the truth, he availed to kee
the Church uncorrupt in doctrine an
missionary in spirit and practice. DuI
ing his pastorate he baptized 661 an
served the Master and the Church faitl
fully until 1876, a period Of thirty y-eigl
years. He died full Of heavenly honol
and beloved by all the people. A bear
tiful granite monument near the churc
marks the spot where the tenement ,
this noble man Of God was laid away.
After this sketch had been read Re
W. v. Wilson, Of Port Monmouth, III
yelled monument to the memory
Abel Morgan, purchased by contrib'
tions from the 2O3 Baptist Churches
the State. 1t was appropriately il
scribed.
In the evening short addresses we
delivered by several persons. The
abounded in incidents of historical valn
Among the more valuable Of them we
these Early in the present centu
there existed the Rittenhouse Mann
Training School " at Sandy Ridge--on
the bare mention, without detail /; Il
. first Baptist Sunday School in the Sta
.. was established in 1916, at the house
Ann Taylor, member Of the Middl
, town Church this mother Of Church
in New Jersey has been truly missio
ary Church; eleven Churches in u
near vicinity have been organized out
her members she has sent forth 4
; preachers into the great field to tell t
(, story OF the Cross. What q wonderi
= time that will be when they all shall
gathered home TO the Church trump
: Ionkt