The Jersey City news., 1891-12-14
DR.. M'KELVEY'S CHURCH.
Second Pcesbyterians Celebrated
Their Fortieth Anniversary.

| y
| Rev. DR.. McKelvey, of the Second Pres
byterian Church, preached an historical
sermon last evening on the occasion of
| the fortieth anniversary of the founding
OF the church. The celebration proper
will take place Tuesday evening
The Doctor chose his text from Deuter-
onomy ii. 7:-"These forty years the Lord
mas been with thee"
Forty yearsp' he exclaimed. 'If this
| period was not typical, it, as spoken of
in various connections, is certainly sug-
gestive."
| He then alluded to the forty years
wandering in the wilderness on the
part of the Children of Israel, at the end
of which period Moses stood on the border
| of the promised land.
| Only two of those who had been with
him and had at that time arrived at the
years of discretion were then with him
| Caleb and Joshua.
| Forty years ago, next Wednesday,"
said DIR. Kelvey. this church was organ
| lied. From our standpoint the lesson
| of our morality and of the heredity of our
sojourn on the earth is more pointedly
| emphatic than was that to which Moses
called the attention to Israel. OF those
who united in the organization OF this
| church forty years ago, not one jig with us
| and probably not one on this side of the
| grave. OF those who united during the
| first ten years the same may be said of all
| but six-M Ruth A. Reed, Mr.. Will
| liam G. Whyte, Mrs. Moore, Mr.. William
| C. Whyte and Mr.. and Mrs. William c.
1 German"
4 A PROLIFIC BASEMENT.
/ fhAu ri il lgcf n m
| early history of the church, told how it
| sprang, in 1851, with eighteen members.
| from mission sabbath school, which met
| in the basement of Public School No Q.
then situated where there is now fiat
| known as No. 205 Erie street. From the
| same school sprang the Wayne street and
| the Park Reformed Churches and st.
| Paul's NJ. E. Church. The first sermon.
under the auspices of those expectlng to
| be organized as the Second Presbyterian
Rev. Charles Hoover. who was
| the first pastor. The first trustees were
John H. Lyon, Davis S. Crosby. D. w.
Harrison. George II. TAYLOR, Levi Wilder,
A. Craig and John G. Carpenter. Ruling
elders, Thomas C. Doremus. Davis S.
| Crosby and William Rhodes. Shortly
| afterward the new church was organized
| it worshipped until May /, 1852, in Union
| Hall, then known as Smiths Hall, at
| Grove and Fourth streets; subsequently,
in what was then known as Wellwond
| Hall, Newark and Jersey avenues. The
| estimates for the present structure, with
| only temporary front, were submitted,
| at $12 600. The corner stone was laid on
| April Is. 1857 and the building dedicated
| on January IL, 1858. April. 1868. the prop
| 9rty was worth not less than $4,000.
PAST PASTORS OF THE CHURCH.
| Turning from the civil to the ecclesiasti-
cal aud religious affairs of the church the
! minister alluded to its five pastors, the
| Rev. Charles Hoover, 1S52-59: the Rev.
| George C. Lucas. 1860 63: the Rev. James
| NJ Stevenson, 1864 II; the Rev. Hiram
| tend the memorial services Tuesday even
| ing); the Rev. John r. Fisner 1S74-S3.
During Mr.. Hoover's pastorate
| 146 mem bers were added: Mr.. Lucas pas
torate added S3; Mr.. Slevensou's pastor
ate, l57; DR.. Eddy's. Sc; the Rev. Mr..
Fishers 1872; the present pastorate, 527.
| "Looking at the results in decades"
| said the doctor, "about the same average
| may be reached" The doctor stated that
| the present membership of the church is
329. and the church is in good financial
| condition, with The many recent improve
| ments paid for. For this he believed the
church had reason to thank God and take
| courage.
.'The forty years. journey has had its
| lights and its shadows, but day and night
| the pillar of cloud aud of fire has been
| kept in view. and this Church has en-
deavored to follow its guidance. The
| journey has not all been wilderness. IL
| mas been in land or promise, aud the
! promises of the fathers are still ours
| They have rested from their laborS. but
| their works do follow them.
"Rut what shall be our futuref This
we do know. that il God be with us we
need not fear, We are in the midst of
restless times. New conditions of things
press upon every side. These are trying
| times which try mems souls. Has God
| changed? Have men morally and sDirit-
ually changed? Has our Lord given to
| his people a new commission? Are not
| these essentially the same as tbev Were
when our Lord assembled from Olivet?
/ Have we any new Gospel to preach?
| Have we newly authorized applances9
| Are the weapons of our warfare to be
| less spiritual? Are we to take up the
weapons of supposed carnal expediency
| In gathering souls into the kingdom of
| our Redeemer?
| NO WORLDLY POLICY.
"Are we to stoop to the world, and in a
| worldly policy use worldly weapons IN
| conquering the world for Christ? No,
| bre hren. What is new is not true. aud
! what is true is not new. AS we enter
| upon our future as from our present
vantage ground and look into its uncer-
| tainties, there are three necessities which
| would solemnly impress us.
IL Be true 10 our Lord Jesus Christ,
| the great Head of the church.
''2 We must be true to the word of
revelation which Coils spirit has given
\ us.
'S Be true to our vows and our
| church.
Captivating novelties NAV give amuse-
ment, and make people laugh aud gather
| crowds, butts it by these that he Master
| teaches us we are to win souls? These
do not even place people in the way of
| being saved. They unit the mind and
heart for the message of salvation. The
| church and the preacher never can win