The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-13
CHANGES IN JERSEY CITY.
Pastor Wells Interestingly Pictures
the History of Ia Downtown dis

Pastor Wells interestingly Pictures
the History of the Downtown Dis
arict.
Last evening closed the summer series of
illustrated sermons by the Rev. J. Lester
Wells in the Tabernacle, and the church will
not open again until September ?, when the
Pastor, the Rev. John L. Scudder, will
preach.
Notwithstanding the inclemency of the
weather the Tabernacle was full with al in
terested audience. Pastor Wells prelude
was on Changes in Lower Jersey City"
The photographs were of well known scenes
in the downtown district. The map which
was exhibited showed about one mile square
Of area. and which is supposed to contain
100, 600 of the population, The Rev. Mr..
Wells described how that in lS02 there We're
only thirteen people residing here, and,
three years later, only twelve houses. The
old cemetery was a sand hill at Grand and
Washington streets; the rest OF the land was
marshy, and boats could come as far as New
ark avenue.
The population of Jersey in 1919 was
400; in 1924, 1900; in 1915, 4,25S; in 1851,
5000; in 1876, $4,000; in 1888, 1882, and
now has about 200, 900. Within twenty
years it was estimated that our city would
contain half a million of people, The old
Presbyterian church of Washington street
was then shown and its history given. 1t
was erected in 1910 in Wall street, New
York, and for a third Of a
century was the popular Sab.
bath resort of the wealthy New Workers.
Evangelist Whitfield occupied its pulpit in
1910. In 1874 it was sold to the people of
Jersey City for $4,000. Each stone was
marked aud moved oyer the Hudson River,
and put up here exactly as it stood in New
York. 1t was 125 feet long, IS feet wide
and 225 feet to the top OF the tower. 1t was
| embellished beautifully inside with rich
decorations. In 1851 the membership was
900. the most of whom were the best fami-
| Its of New Jersey. Lawyer McC3ee gave
the Rev. Mr.. Wells some of the prominent
men and their names aPe:-Benjamin u.
Clark. Abram S. Jewell, Judge Joseph 7.
| Randolph, Dudley S. Gregory, who had
much to do in establishing the
Tabernacle; Frederick B. Belts, Hamp-
NJ. Stiger, Titus B.. Meigs, N. s. Pollock,
| VIM. 3. Talcott, Gov. Theo. Randolph,
Judge Marsh, Banker Hatch, julius >.
| Howell, Jas. L. Ogden. Geo. B. Green, VIM.
| II. Buxton, DR.. d. c.. McNaughton, ex-Gov.
| Joseph D.. Bedle. Jas. &. Hulshizer3 the
Janeways, Hendersons, DaVenpores anu
| many others.
In the Board of Trustees several millions
of dollars were represented.
The old Dutch Church on Grand street,
| where Rev. Dr.. H. M. Scudder was pastor
| for a while there were also these influential
families: Chancellor Zabriskie. Jos "A.
| Williamson, Thos. Earl, VIM. Martin, DIR.
| Tneo. L. VaIick, Supt. Dickinson, while old
| st. Matthews and Trinity Churches had
| their share of the wealthy.
From that time to this the change has been
marked; nearly all those families have gone
and a host of others, and the poorer classes
have moved in.
| street in 1882 had less than one hundred
members and they were scattered. 1t was
sold, and on its site now stands an apart
ment house with fifty families in it,
The speaker then presented scenes on
several streets revealing how formerly fine
residences were now tenement or boarding
houses. He said the Tabernacle which was
erected thirty years ago had lost also many
men of means, but still it lived, and with its
Peopla's Palace it was striving to reach and
hello those who have moved into this dis
trict who are not church going people, anu
that those of means who awe moved else
where should contribute to sustain the Peo-
ple,s Palace in its broad and Christ like
work. I.
The regular topic was then introduced and
the Rev. Mr.. Wells spoke upon the Last
DAYS of Christi Christ appeared on q
beautiful painting going into Jerusalem,
amidst the shouts of the people who spread
their garments in the way. The view OF
stChrist Taking Leave of His Mother was
very impressive. Pictures Of the Last
Supper were given, also scenes in the
garden of Gethsemine. the passion prayer,
the disciples asleep. the coming OF the
Roman soldiers, the betrayal, the kiss Of
Judas, the scourging, the crowning with
thorns, bearing His cross, the tragic death
on Calvary, the e~ntombnent, resurrection,
the appearing to Mary and the disciples and,
finally, His ascension.