The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-08
GmRBHNVILLE BAPTlSqS
First Annual Anniversary OF
the Branch of the Bergen
Church = Successful
Movements.

The Greenrille Branch Of the Bergen
| Baptist Church, which is located al No
| t2i Ocean avenue. celebrated It's first an
| n~fversary last evening with appropriate
| ceremonies. The meeting room Is stu
ated on the ground floor of a small two
| story building, ard has a seating capacity
| OF about sixty. 1t was in there the SER
vices were held. The simple little wood
en- desk ON the platform was r~esplendent
with q beautiful bouquet of roses and
pinks. On the piano and platform sew
eral large baskets of flowers were placed.
There were about forty people present
when Superintendent Edward Brown
opened the services by requesting all to
join in singing a hymn. Then followed
the reading OF several passages from the
Bible by the superintendent. Several
solos were sung by different young ladies'.
Mr.. Edward Brown spoke for a short
time about the good work done by this
branch of the Baptist Church since it was
organized just a year ago. Among other
things he said:-
II IN pleased to see so many present
here this evening taking such an inter-
est in the good work of our branch and
l hope you will all continue to do so.
You all know we are in excellent fnaneia
condition., even better han l expected. i
hope in time we may be able to have a
church of our own"
He closed by giving a few words of
good cheer to those present. Refresh
ments were then served by the ladies and
SO ended n years good work by this
earnest little branch of followers of the
Lord.
This branch of the Bergen Baptist
Church was started on October Z, 1896,
with nine members and Mr.. Edward
Brown as leader. They met each Thurs
day evening in the different members
houses for about two months until enough
money was raised TO erect the present
quarters. From nine members the little
band has gradually increased until about
forty families are now connected with
the branch.
The Sunday school was organized jan
nary 2 of this year and now has about
sixty scholars and twelve teachers in at
tendance. every Sunday afternoon.
Mr.. Edward S. Brown, to whose eff
forts the success of the school is mainly
due was elected a member of the Board
of Deacons of the Bergen Baptist Church
at the last meeting held about six
months ago, partly as a reward for his
excellent services, but more to give him
an official standing in connection with
his work. The growth of the school is
being watched with unusual interest by
Greenville people. The school will be a
nucleus Of what will be before long a
G~reenville Baptist Church.
For a great many years the Baptists
of Greenville nave been compelled to wor-
ship with other denominations. They are
growing so rapidly and the need of a
new Baptist Church is felt more and more
| every year. The Bergen Baptist Church
| at Madison and Clinton avenues is the
nearest Baptist Church and despite its
distance a great many Greenville Baptists
are in the habit of attending the service
regularly. although not in any way con
nected with that church. 1t is hoped
that better quarters for the branch will
be found shortly, as the present ones arr
Inadequate. For the past six months
or so the Bergen Baptist Church has hat
Pastor Lyons preach to the Greenvillt
Branch every Sunday evening.