Daily Republican., 1890-01-28
HISTORIC GRACE.


- s""y Ncau Aht0restinI Essays on
40 Years History.
AT the history meeting Of Grace NJ. Z.
Church lnst evening O. b. Rudolph ere.
sided, kev. WIN. Stevenson, ID. D.,
conducted prayer, Rev. Wesley Johnson
read the 6ith Psalm, Mr.. J.Tayl lor Cause
read an essay on GrAcs's inception, and
MI. WIN. II. Billany read . complete
history OF tho church. Tic solos and
anthem were artistic, and the choral and
congregational singing Of hymns was
spirited.
Somo data from the essays shows,
1868, Fall, some members OF st. Paul
taw the need OF enlarged Sunday school
and church accommodation. Their suc-
cess Ia Epworth mission work incitel
tho sunday school workers with new
zeal. .-,t-.
1854 Northwet corner Of Seventh and
MARKET street was purchased from Hon,
John. j. Milligan aud school organic
which afterwards became Grace N. r.
Sunday school.
The new cnterpri,e took deep root IN
the heart Of Rev. W. j. Stevenson. In
succeeding years he was ever at the from
oil The struggle planning the work apt
guiding the workers, finally nwak
ening and enereizing the entire member
ship OF the church into active CO. opera
tion. To Rev. w. j, stcyepso,
more than to any other man, living OF
dead, 10 due the evolution oi the germ
thought and the nnal consuin,nation o
this grand achievement 10 material ant
church architecture. ,...-..
Nov. II. The drst formal declaration
Of the purpose 10 build new church
Present: ksv W. J. Stevenson, aeorg,
". Sparks, DeiaIAa Mcdaniel, Henr,
y. Pickels, Job n. Jackson, q. +. Ra
dolph. Samuel N. Harrington, ESQ.,, w
u. Biliany, J. I. Cause, DIR. G. Feppe
Norris and Col. Edwin Wilmer, each o
whom pledged himself to the inaugura
ton aud execution OF tho undertaking
A committee was appointed " secur,
plana
1885, Jan. 9. Memorable meeting
Geo. ". Sparks presided. Bishop Simp Q
son greatly encouraged tho work; 70
solved to build Il nov church In the west
,rn part Of the city.
January "a trustees elected, the iiyIn q.
Of whom, at this date, are G. +. l.u
dolph, J. II. Jackson, aud J. T. Gaus
aud W. II. Billsuy. The departed ar,
Daniei NJ. Bates, Delaplain Mcdaniel
John Merrick, DIR. q. Pepper Norris
George w. Sparks, Jarad McGaw. TIL
ladies' voted aud ths name OF ''Graca'
was adopted. April O, 1865, lot Al Ninil
Pand West streets purchased for $40, ,OCO
April "a, ground was broken and worl
eontinued three sears until ediilce wa
completed.
The serpentins stone was chosen be
cause tie Blrinlngham Friends Meeting
House, built OF It, was as bright an,
besutiul after 100 years as when new.
1866, January, revival which is still
well represenL,d d IN the membership an,
property OF The church. March IL, w
II. Billsny elected Sunday school super
intendent. March 10, J. T. Claus
elected superintendent afternoon 5undA,
school. March %, first service In til
lecture room, i'ev. W. J. Stevenson
pastor. Large congregation.
March 30, Friday evening, the FIRE
prayer meeting service was held In ih
new ediiice. May o, Building Com,nitte
Instructed to proceed with the work oI
the main editlce.
June 10, the chapel was dedicated; tn
sermon by Bishop Awes.
1888. jan. 80. the church was dedicated
Rev. DR. Stevenson read the preliminary
portion of the dedicatio on service. Aite
singing aud prayer by the Rev. Anthonl
Atwood, bishop Simpson pieaciied til
dodicatory sermon from the text: "Eo
unto us child 10 born; unto US q son 4
given, and the government shall be upol
hta shoulders, and his lame shall b.
called Wonderful. Counselor, the Might,
tod, The Almighty Father, the Prince o
Peace"
The serious struggling to ra'se th,
large suins OF money required were de
ecribed.
Itsppears that our cisss of givers wer,
liberal and large in their philanthropy
and pubic spirit, and that there wa
| also largo clAs on tho plan of tn
widows mite.
week and the church Is declared Tree o
debt. The cost of the whole including
furnishing Ia t20l ,2l6.3S.
The R'v. W. j. Stevenson, who wal
present, made short but interesting ad
| drets, in which he told some of his per
aonal recollections OF Grace Church. H.
concluded his remarks by imprcssipl
upon his hearers the fact that this ami
versary WAS not AN end, but beginning
The past gave delightful retrospect, bu
tho future holds promises OF create
things 10 be achieved. He urged them l.
look up, not down, forward ard no
| back ward, until Grace Church became
part of the Church triumphant &
| Heaven.
The exerc,tcs c'osed with the slngin
Of hymn aud the bencdiction BY th
Rev. Jacob Todd, d. d.
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Dr SI,pms' Whit o Pulmouic Iy,sIsnru