The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-16
First UniVersalist Church
on Ivy Place Soon to Gel
citrate It's Twenty
fifth Anniversary.
IT'S HISTORY AND STEADY GROWTH
Pastors Who Have Presided
Sketch Of the Sunday School
Among the Churches.

wednesday Octoper ~, VIII De an event
full day in the history of the First uni-
versalist Church on Ivy place. near Sum
NIT avenue. On that day the congrega-
ton Will celebrate the tw~enty-hfth ami
versary of the church. The silver jubilee
It Is cailed. This occasion will be a
double festival, for the floating debt or
$3.50. which has been accommodating for the
past ten or twelve years, Will be wiped
out and this fact gives the congregation
additional cause to rejoice.
The anniversary programme. although
NOT Vet thoroughly completed. viii be an
elaborate one. The Ladies Social Union
has charge of the decorations. music and
refreshments, and it IS needless to say
the members VII! succeed In making the
church look very attractive. Ported
plants and palms of all descriptions will
be Iastefully arranged on the platforms
and scattered around the cosy little
building in every available nook and
corner. Several large bouquets will also
be placed on the platform to add TO the
beauty of the scene. All those connectea
with the arrangements of the celebration
intend to make it one that will not soon
be forgotten.
Invitations have been sent to all the
older member of the parish. that is those
that have been unable to attend regularly,
but who remain connected with the
church. All are promised a great treat
and those in charge intend TO make u a
success, as no such thing as 1aliufe mas
ever entered their minds. The celeora,
ton will take place in the evening anu
the ceremony will open with prayer by
Pastor Vain. Addresses by Rev. James
Pullman of New York, Rev. D. L. Holden,
Rev. John c. Adam of Brooklyn, Rev. a.
S. Yates of New York, will follow, MISS
Virginia Doggert, the organist, VIII play
the occasion. Several we'll known soloists
will also be present to lend their assist
ance in making the celebration SUCCESSFUL;
After the ceremonies the Ladies Soeiat
Union will serve refreshments. Nearly
all the arrangements are completed ana
the rehearsals have made all the per-
formers perfect in their parts.
The Sunday School will also celebrate
the twenty-fifth anniversary OF IT'S Or
ganization on Friday, October Y. IN the
evening. The children and teachers are
taking a great interest in arranging TOT
a good time. Their efforts will be crowned
with success.
On Sunday morning, October "a. Pastor
Charles Vail will preach his anniversary
past and will review the history OF the
church from the time of its organization
to the present. He will also speak about
the former pastors who have had charge
of the church and tell of the work done
by them. The sermon will be very inter-
esting, as Pastor Vail is aking great
pains in compiling the history Oh the
church. -.
Church IS indeed a very interesting one.
The Ss5 foliewio of iTh a o News ske bS Mr. flve Vail H.
The first service that was held in this
city was in Library Hall, on Summit ave
nne, near Grand street He,ds, on wd pec fba main IL,
mover of the little band, and the Rey.
James Pullman, now of New YORK,
preached the first sermon, There were
about ten families present on that day
when Pastor Pullman preached the tlrst
ermon A Sunday schoolShad been or
ganized in Library Hall about six months
before that time, that is on December II,
The parish of the First Universalist
Church was organized on March 10. 1917,
and it was about three res months later, to
was organized. At the close of the first
service in Library Hall on December IL;
1871. the bylaws and constitution and
the Universalists General Convention in
1903. at Winchester. Mass. were read. The
following are the professions of faith
Article /. We believe that the Holy
Scriptures of the Old and New Testament
contain a revelation of the character OF
God and of the duty. interest and final
destination of mankin
Article II. We believe that there is one |
God. whose nature is Love. revealed in one
Lord Jesus Christ. by one Holy Spirit of
Grace, who will finally restore the whole
family of mankind to holiness and happi-
ness.
Article III. We believe that holiness
and true happiness are inseparably con-
nected; and that believers ought 70 pc
good works: for these things are gooo
and profitable unto men.
The meetings were continued in the hall
until October %, 1872. Previous to this,
on August 5. 1872, the present church was
bought from the Emory Methodist So
ciety for about $15. 600. The place was
thoroughly refitted and refurnished. which
cost several thousand dollars more. sun
day morning., October 20. 1872. the day
they entered their new quarters. Rev. A.
D. Thayer of New York, who had been
first sermon in the new quarters, The
services i'll the afternoon of that date
were conducted by Pastor Pullman and
in the evening by the Rev. &c. sweetser
following by the Rev. j. Chaplin of New
York. In 1874 the constitution and by
laws were revised a a little, and at 5ha5
with the church. The congregation con-
tinued to grow until now over one hun
dred families are connected with it.
The Sunday school has 1871 scholars in 1t
now and fifteen teachers. besides six
officers. The present pastor, the Rev.
Charles Vail. has been with the church
for nearly four years. all of which have
been very happy and full of good results.
On his entering the church about $4,000
spent in catering the building. which
now is very beautiful inside. The societies
Of the church are in excellent work.
ing order and are preparing for a very
busy seasons work and are also arrang-
ing for several sociables which will be
given this winter. The church is now in
an excellent financial condition. and in
fact. taking all things into consideration.
has had a very prosperous career and
under the careful guidance of Pastor Vail
is bound to go onward.
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