The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-07
AFTER FOURTEEN YEARS.
The Rev. DR.. Hathaway to
Preach His Anniversary
Sermon Tomorrow.
BUILT THE WESTMINSTER CHURCH
"reminiscences of His P%astorate-
Boy Choir at Holy Innocents,
Hoboken-Church Notes.

H0b0ken-Church Notes.
Fourteen years ago, the Rev. Israel w.
Hathaway entered upon his duties as
pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian
Church. Fourteen years e he was
plain REV. Mr." without the grave
"Dr." or the imposing finale of I'D. D."
to his NAME. and fourteen years ago the
church was no such flourishing society,
In a fine house. as it is now. What has
brought the Westminster Presbyterian
Church into prominence. architecturally
and financially. has happened well within
those fourteen years.
1t Is no easy task to assn me the man.
aeement of a struggling little church. as
this was when the Rev. Mr.. Hathaway
came. 1t is no small work TO Keep the
heads of the congregation above the flood
of debts. or their feet out Of the slough OF
inactivity. Certainly it is no laughing
matter to be a building minister" by
which, of course, one means a minister
whose duty it is to lead his people Into a
fine new church, with stained glass win
dows. a new organ. and a prospect of
frescoes on the wall. 1t was this that
confronted the Rev. DIR. Hathaway when
he had been in charge but a few short
years. The Building Committee set its
eyes ana its heart on a corner lot on Mag
nolia aud Bergen avenues. and began to
see visions n dream dreams of q pretty
red brick church, spread u in English
style to cover q great deal of ground
space, clustered with lecture rooms. par
Tors, Kitchens and all that goes to make
the life of the church worker worth liv-
ing. 1t vas the Rev. Mr.. Hathaway's
duty to preside over the operation of get
ting the church.
"REMINISCENCES OF H WORK.
And he did it. 1t is a matter of local
history o they worked for it. One an
tertainment in particular was given
in the old Oakland Avenue
Rink, that was packed to the
doors, Mrs. Erminnie A. Smith. bright
est of our literary women, who has since
passed on to the rest she had never
known, was in charge. Will Carleton
read from his poems. "Betsey and
are Out" and such like ballads, including
several then unpublished. 1t was Me-
mortal Day, u he recited his Chem
latest poem, Converse With the Siain."
Mrs. Clementine Lasar Studwell Sang
her voice was just in its glory then-and
Signor Di Tipaldi, who had just arrived
III q LAC tbaRkS
that was TO set all maidens drumming,
PLAYED his sad little folk songs. 1t was
by such labors us this to say nothing of
church fairs uunumbered. and a list of
individual contributions as long as your
arm, tina the church was raised.
Meanwhile the Rev. Mr.. Hathaway
had been given his D. D.. thai title used
SO indiscriminately by the laity, but
standing for such sharp distinctions
among our clerical friends. Perhaps
those two letters made the Rev. DR..
Hathaway preach better sermons, but his
flock say it wasn't possible. AT any rate.
no has it, and that's another trophy of his
fourteen years.
TOMORROW THE DAY.
Tomorrow morning the Rev. DR.. Hath
away will preach his anniversary sermon
before one of the most prosperous and
united congregations on the Heights. He
can, from the desk, let his eyes q
over an audience-rootn spacious, we'll
lighted and ventilated, well adorned. He
can listen to a well trained choir aud the
sweet tones of the organ, and visit, after
the service, a Sunday School second to
none in point Of organization, overflow
ing its hall. He can attend the meeting
OF a Christian Eudeavor society that
takes In almost all the young people of
the church. He can hear about his Kings
Daughters and Sons. and Missionary So
CietieS. He a congratulate Gne Ladies
Aid Society that helped him to all this,
and he can think that the greater part OF
this has been added within his fourteen
years.
But he will look for much that Is not
there. Every minister sees such vacant
places at his anniversary. Many of his
congregation who began mis- course with
him have gone beyond. not Il few of the
women who worked for the new church
have been taken away. The organ will
be played by other hands than Tho Q OF
the young girl whom death took away
but a few weeks ago, before she had
| reached her twentieth year. Changes
have come, as they will do In a city with
| such an ever-moving population, yet the
| course of the church has been toward
prosperity. The congratulations of the
| community are with the Rev. DR.. Hath
| away as he enters upon the crystal we'd
| ding year of his pastorate.
ALLIANCE PLANS IN PROSPECT.
The Presbyterian Alliance, of which
| this church forms a part, will hold a
| public meeting sometime next month. at
| which some prominent New York divine
| will deliver an address. 1Rey. DR.. Park.
| hurst was the first cuoice of the com
| mittee, but as he will be unable to attend,
| the place has not yet been filled. The
leaders Will meet on Tuesday. January
II, to discuss matters pertaining to this
and other Alliance arrangements.