Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-05-20
M. E. CHURCH CENTENNIAL.

Last week was one of religious fervor ani
rejoicing with the Methodist congregation
of our city Meetings were held nightly
except Saturday evening, and tire,
services on the Sabbath the closing da,
of the celebration, addressed by former
pastors. The greatest interest centered il
the historical review BY Dr. Whitecar O
Philadelphia, whose ancestors were instru
mental in the establishment of the de
nomination which is now the largest
numerically, as it is the wealthiest in oul
city.
Presiding Elder Harris had charge Of
the Sunday morning service, and Rev. S.
M. Vernon, D. D.,of Philadelphia, delivered
the sermon. At the afternoon service Rev.
c. P. Whitecar read the centennial histori-
cal address, prepared by himself from data
left by his ancestors, who were of the first
congregation.
THE EARLY CHURCH.
The introduction of the people called
Methodists and their form of worship into
Woodbury. dates back over century, and
the narrative of religion in those early days
in replete with stirring incidents of the
difficulties and hardships which beset the
worshipers of generations ago.
From the material found among the
records of the eighteenth century it Is
obvious that congregation of devout peo-
pie calling themselves Methodists wor-
shipped in and about Woodbury.. Some
time during the last decade of the past
century, after vigorous opposition, an ap-
plication of the small Methodist band to
worship in the old Court House was
granted, and meetings for exhortation and
prayer were held, although up to this time
there had been no attempt made to organize
a regularly constituted society in the
village or vicinity. How long these in
formal services continued is not exactly
known, but it is ascertained, however, that
the Church of Philadelphia was communi-
Gated with in order to secure the aid of the
itinerant or travelling preachers, so that
permanent, effective church organization
might be built on a sure foundation, we'll
differed and guarded. After services had
been conducted in the Court House for
some time Rev. Richard Sheath, who was
then in the second year of his appointment
as an itinerant, was appointed. This first
and notable event occurred on Thursday,
and Mr.. Sheath, it is believed, labored here
about twelve years. He was regarded as
the enemy of good many people, and the
home of Benjamin Whitecar was for long
time the only one open to him.
Services were held every two weeks, with
an attendance of about twelve or fifteen
persons, but it was not long before the
was attended by the usual effects
Men and women were stirred and awakened,
and out of the inhabitants came class of
faithful with only the strength of personal
experience to do battle for the cause.
THE FIRST GLASS
In few months after the advent of Mr.
Sheath class was organized and the first
to cast in his lot with the j" Ranting Metho-
dists" was Benjamin Whitecar, and his wife
soon afterwards identified herself with the
and from letter written by
her this abstract is taken: / did not Join
it for six months, but joined it for life, let
that be longer OF shorter, if the Church
would put up with me-"
The feeling against the Methodists was
still SO strong as to prevent the freedom
that should have been theirs in their mode
Of worship, and the prophecy was made
that the first cold night would freeze all
the Methodists out of Woodbury.. But
time proved otherwise, and the date of the
arrival and first sermon of Richard Sheath
is considered the permanent establishment
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church in
Woodbury..
Mr.. Whitecar, in his review, says of the
Cedar Cooper prisoner, who was SO prom
inently connected with early Methodism
here: His memory is totally obliterated
and his name erased from the pages of his
tory, while his fame is practically unknown
to any living except Rev. c. 81. Whitecar
and myself, and only to us as far off echo
Of the long past age. He sleeps somewhere
in an unknown grave, and possibly I'M
marked by any epitaph, living and dying
amidst the struggles of poverty and shadows
IN the vale of obscurity as regards social
ife."
The progress of Methodism was necessar-
ly slow. All surrounding circumstances
seemed and were adverse There was no
visible hopeful outlook, and but few in
duential adherents.
Meanwhile the class was established at
Ihe home of David Chew, three miles south
Of this city, and the appointment was
charged from Thursday to Sunday. The class
ito meet there until after the
erection of the first frame church, but there
are no documents preserved that give a
,oncise history of Methodism ora personnel
If its membership.
THE SECOND EDIFIcE.
The brick church or second edifice was
erected in 1929, the lot having been pur-
chased two years prior, and the sanctuary
was built under the advice of the Burling-
ION Quarterly Conference, with Rev. Chas.
Pitman as Presiding Elder and Revs. Ed
ward Page and William Lummis ministers
N charge. The appointment stands il the
minutes of the Philadelphia Conference as
Woodbury. and Chews Landing.
The church has had phenomenal growth,
and from out her communion have gone
many who have done honor to her training
and have been potential in the councils of
5he chnrch-at-large.
Among those who labored here in early
lays were John NJ. McDougall, Wesley c
Hudson. Bromell Andrews,J. Loudenslager
ind Joseph Ashbrook, followed in more re-
cent years by Willis Reeves, George H.
Neal, William Pittinger, B. @. Lippincott
md Others.
The Cedar Cooper prisoner mentioned
lbove was an unknown man who was con-