Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-03-07

and teachers and PAS scholars. His
successor was the Rev. Henry Betting,
who remained three years, and was
followed by Rev 7. Fl. Stockton in
1877. 1t was year Of signal prosper
ity. Sixty joined on probation, and
the membership increased TO 265. Mr..
Betting was very successful among his
people. Tie monthly Childrens Meet
ings which he inaugurated, were
great feature, aud always drew crowd
led houses, The church continued to
lsohdify under the three years pastor
ttae of tie Rev. D. Fl. Schock and
REV II. g, Williams, who remained
twith the chureh one year.
/, Under the administration of the Rev.
y. G. Hancock, which began in 1882
and terminated in 1885. the church
was especially blessed. The member
shi was increased from 265 to 366,
with 10 probationers, and the salary
raised from $1,000 to 200.
The RAYS. s. Sykes became pastor
| n 1885, and continued for three years.
Uuder his administration beautiful
and coinmodious parsonage was Sc.
| cured The membership increased 10
400, aud the missionary collection from
$500 to $461. The Sunday school con
tributing $64l of this amount The
number of officers and teachers was 55.
with 300 scholars.
The Rev. John Handley. the present
pastor, opened his administration in
the Spring OF 1888. The year Just
closing has been one of unusual sue
| cess in every department. The Quar-
teriy Conference at meeting early in
the year decided that the time had
stone, with Indiana stone trimmings.
Ayoodale stone is nearly white, the
trimmings will be darker The side
walls of the interior will be frescoed; I;
the ceilings will be of chestnut and the
rafters cherry. The church will be
cushioned and carpeted throughout.
and is expected to seat nearly one
thousand people. The seats will be
circular and arranged in the form of
an amphitheatre. The pulpit will be
in the west end and the choir in the
northwest corner.
the history of the church, has been in
progress during the last two months.
Over eighty have been converted, and
about seventy of these have united
with the church on probation. Twenty
six besides these have been received in
I full membership, making a net gain
during this year of eighty members.
The present Official Board is com
prised of the following gentlemen:
George Lawrence, Ner Allen, Joseph
Butler, Charles II. Mulford, David D.
Frazeur. George w. McCewan, M. w.
Applegate, John G. Sweeten. c. r.
Seull, John Burt, Samuel NJ. Bassett,
Enoch Sayre, @. H. Barnes, DR.. 0. E.
Peck, David P. Mulford, D. Edward
Smith, 8. M. Allen, William Terrell,
G, w. Shoemaker, A. r. Garrison,
Samuel T. Butler, r. G. Hunt.
Central Church bids fair to become
Que of the strongest and most useful
Methodist Churches in the New jersey
Conference.
The Sabbath school received especial
attention from the church from the be-
ginning. 1t was early provided with
| a we'll selected library and the most
approved system of instruction. The
following named gentlemen have filled
the position of Superintendent in the
| regular order George Lawrence, D.
B. Thompson, s. G. Porch, G. w. Fin
law. G. f. Bishop, j. A. Peterson, A.
d. Maui, A. r. Garrison, s. NJ Bas.
sett, George w. MCGOWAN, Rev. Henry
Betting, VIM. n Hewitt, DR.. O. f.
Peck, George w. MCGOWAN. Mr.. A.
Il. Garrison was the first Secretary,
and has held that position longer than
any one individual Mrs. Rhoda
Overdorf, d. Edward Smith, and Mrs
Harriet s. Allen are still teachers and
have been acting in the same capacity
ever since the school was organized.
The Sunday school has at esent 3S5
| choslars on the roll. The collection
this year are much in advance of pre-
vious years. The present Superintend-
ent has for his assistants DIR. 0. E.
Peck and Mrs. Nettie Sweeten, while
the Infant Department is Superin-
tended by G. w. Shoemaker, and his
administration cannot be excelled At
present the library has near y 600
volumes from the best authors en- it's
81,