Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1889-09-26
THE DEAD MORTGAGE.
THURSDAY NIGHT
AMID REJOICING.
DebI--TheIr Old Enemy
DESTROYED.

Destroyed.
| One of the Oldest members of Trinity
M. E. church passed peacefully away
on Sept. 9th last, and the form had
been carefully kept until Thursday
| night, when the funeral services were
held, and the body cremated before a
large assembly. The large church was
crowded to it's doors with an audience
that was jubilant, and the old church
never had brighter face than last
night, when the lights were turned
high and the Board of Trustees and
members of the Young Mems League
marched to the front and took a seat
within the altar rail. On the platform
were Presiding Elder G. L. Dobbins,
Rev. ]. H. Payran, Rev. G.. G. Stanger,
Rev. J. B. Whitton and Rev. Geo. H.
Neal. A choir of twelve voices had
seats in the rear of the pulpit. On the
rear walls of the church was the word
in large letters Free" under which
hung an American flag. About the
church were large boquets of flowers,
ferns and grasses.
The service was in charge of J. War
rem Miller, President of the Young
Mems League. The choir and congre-
cation sang the doxology, and Rev. g.
G. Stanger offered prayer. ]. L. Rice
then gave a brief history of the church.
Away back in 1S41 Pastor Weed, of
| 10 hnr ot
conceived the idea that there should
be Methodist worshipping place in
West Bridgeton, and a class of 36 per-
sons with Daniel Hanthorn as leader,
commenced worship in little shoe
shop, which stood on the property
now occupied by Kienzle's tannery.
There are at present but two persons
of that congregation living, and last
night one of them was in the audience.
In 1849 the first pastor was given to
the people. He was married man and
kept horse, supporting himself on a
salary of $3.50, only $3.50 of which was
paid him. The Baptist session rooms
on Atlantic street, were rented and
every Sunday preaching was heard
there. The first congregation num-
bered thirty persons. From this hum
BILE origin the church grew and waxed
strong, and in 1850, while Rev. VIM.
F. Jefferies was pastor, the corner
stone of the church was laid, James
Riley, VIM. Rice and Rev. VIM. F. JEFF
ferries, being the committee having the
matter in charge. In February 8, 1851
the basement was finished and dedi-
Gated.
At this time the Sunday School was
organized with Francis Tyler as it's
first Superintendent. The name of
the church was changed from West
Bridgeton to Trinity. In 1858 it was
decided to 60 on and build the remain
der of the church, and on Christmas
day, 1858, the building was dedicated.
In 1859, while Rev. Isaiah D. King was
pastor, the salary was raised to $500.
In 1861, while Rev. w. Margerum was
pastor, an organ was purchased and
promiscuous seating commenced,
which movement caused a great deal
of comment among the members. In
1871, while Rev. w. w. Moffet was
pastor, the church was enlarged and
re-dedicated in 1872 During the pas
torate of Rev. J. H. Payran, who left
the church last March, the plan for
paying off the debt was adopted by
the Young Mems League, and now the
church has a membership of nearly
four hundred and does not owe
dollar.
After the choir sang "Sing Ye to
God" Rev. j. H. Payran made char
acteristic congratulatory address. His
remarks were tempered with humor,
and were exceedingly interesting. He
was followed by Presiding Elder Dob.
bins, and the pastor read letter from
Rev. Geo. Reed, of Long Branch,
former pastor, who was unable to be
present. The choir sang 80 Clap your
hands, and to the music of an organ
and cornet, the League marched out
and then back, bearing with them the
remains of the dead mortgage, which
for forty years had been member of
the church, always in his place and al
ways eager to receive his share. Charles
Babcock, of the League, presented the
cancelled mortagage to the Trustees,
and Joseph T. White received it with
a neat speech, in which he expressed
the thanks of the Board. The mort
gage was then placed upon a apedestal,
and President Warren Miller pro-
ceeded with a brief history of the mort
cages. One was made out in 1872 in
the name of Archibald Minch, in the
sum of $4,000, and in 1879 the second,
in the sum of $500 was made out to
Henry D. Powell. On March 4, 1886,
the League passed the following reso-