Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-03-07

The beautiful church editice, which,
is so superbly pictured above, will, /.
when finished, be occupied by the.
members and congregation of an orr
ganization, which has grown from a
mere handful of faithful men and wo
men, who in February, 1865, believing
it expedient to form a Third Methodist
Church in this city, branched off from
Commerce Street NJ. E. Church, and
organized Central NJ. E. Church.
1t was during the year 1854, that the
new church was first talked about and
in February 1865, meeting was held,
teered to organize new church, and
this number was subsequently in
creased to 121. These persons instruct
ed their Presiding Elder to have ap-
pointed for them minister, and Rev
Henry Baker, Jr., q young man, was
sent them. The church had secured
the use of the Bank street chapel, and
it was here their first service was held
At the close of this service, a quartey-
ly conference formed the following Of
fetal board Rev. Henry Baker, Jr,
preacher; Rev. John Hickman, Super
numerary; G.. w. Finlaw, local deacon;
G.. Albertson, local preacher; G. W.
White, exhorter; 6. w. Finlaw, d. b.
Thompsoa, S. G. Porch, J. u. Allen,
Geo. Lawrence, NJ. W. Appelgate, Q.
R. earns, class leaders; D. B. Whita-
kcr. Wm. t. Dubois, D. P. Milford,
Ner Allen, s. 6. Porch, Abram r.
Garrison, G. K. Bishop, Stewards. a
Sunday School Committee of s. &.
Porch, g. W. Finlaw, G. Lawrence, A.
D. Maui, ID. B. Thompson, c. E. Ed
wards, T. &. Compton, III. W. Apple
gate. j. Cheesman, Jr., was appointed,
and Geo. Lawrence was the first
Superintendent of the School.
April 10th, 1865, the first Board. Of
Trustees We're elected and consisted Of
D. 3. Whitaker, J. R. Graham, J.
Cheesman, Jr., Enoch Sayre, D. P.
Mulford, I. 6. Compton, j. Frazier
The little Bank Street Chapel soon
become to small for the congregation,
and Grosscup's hall was rented for the
Sabbath services. AT a meeting OF the
leaders and stewards, held Oct, 9th,
1865, it was resolved to take some
measures toward securing the building
of a chapel. D. B. Whitaker, John
Cheesman, Jr., and S. G. Porch were
made Building Committee, and they
visited several cities, and reported that
a suitable structure could be erected
for SO, coo. In September Of the same
year, the trustees purchased the lot at
the corner of Bank and Commerce
streets, at a cost of $4,000, and u por-
ton of it was afterward sold, and the
lot 9Ox150 cost them exactly $4,000
In 1866, the Conference sent to min
lister to the church, Rev. Robt. Given,
Chaplain of the U. s. Navy, Cas- that
time on a leave of absence) and on
May 7th, q public meeting was held,
and it was resolved to build. The
work commenced July 18th, 1866. and
on the 10th day of August, Rev. G. H.
Whitaker, Presiding Elder, laid the
corner stone. The church was dedi-
Gated Thursday, June 27th, 1867
Rev. G. K. Morris was appointed by
the Conference to Central Church in
1867, and during his administra-
ton 54 persons were received on pro-
baton. In 1869, Rev. G. H. Neil sue
ceeded as pastor, but his health fail
ing, he was compelled to retire; and in
1870 Rev. j. L. Roe became the pastor.
During his administration, 36 names
were added to the list of probation
ers.
The Rev. G. r. Hartrauff succeeded
Rev. j. L. Roe in the pastorate in 1872,
and remained two years. He left three
probationers and 263 full members.