The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-21
GREENV|LLE BAPT|STS.
Rapid Growth Of the Branch
Sunday School Under
Superintendent
Brown.

W
Very rapid indee has been the growth
of the Greenvllle branch of the Bergen
Baptist Sunday Schoel. This branch has
riser very rapidly from a little band of
nine until there are now fully one hun
bred members in the congregation. Ser
vices are held each Thursday evening in
the hall on Linden, rear Ocean. avenue,
where Superintendent Edward Brown
the young people hold their services, and
the congregation by the Rev. NJ. Lyon,
who has been engaged by the mother
church. This branch is in a very pros
porous condition and before long the Bap-
lists of the Greenviile section may see a
new church Of that denomination in the
course Of construction.
The history of the Greenville Branch,
as far as 1t has advanced. is most inter-
esting and goes to how what a few de-
termined Christians can do. Mr.. Edward
Brown, who was a member Of the Bergen
Baptist Church, at Clinton and Madison
avenues, first thought of organizing a
branch church in the Greenville section.
He spoke to Pastor Allen about the adj
visibility of such d movement and after
some consideration that gentleman said
hat he thought the idea was a good one.
Accordingly, Mr.. Brown was given the
authority to start such a movement and
the Bergen Baptist Church backed him
up. This was in October of 1885. Nine
members of the mother church, who for
a long time worshiped at the Bergen
Church. united, and under the leadership
of Mr.. Brown meetings were held each
Thursday night at the homes of the diff
ferent members.
At the expiration of about ten weeks
enough money had been raised to hire
a hall in which to hold the meetings, as
the little Christian band had increased
so much that it was impossible to hold
the meetings in private houses. Thu
meeting room of the Minkakwa Republic
can Club, on Ocean, between Gator and
Danforth was the place hired
as a place of worship. This room, where
so many hot political meetings had been
held, and where many deals and dickers
had been arranged, was to be the home
of this band of earnest Christians for a
year or more.
A1Ci 1A0 lSddy CECuil5 II : y 1850
held under the leadership of Mr.. Edward
Brown. From nine members the band had
gradually increased until about forty
families were affiliated with the branch
on October s of last year, when the an
niversary celebration was held with APP
propriate services. On January 2 of 1897
the Sunday School was organized. When
the end of the first year came around
there were twelve teachers to look after
the large attendance of scholars, which
numbered over sixty. Wonderful was
the stride taken by this branch in a year,
and it was mostly due to the efforts of
Mr.. Brown, who was elected a deacon of
the Bergen Baptist Church. partly as a
reward for his excellent services, but
more to give him an official standing in
connection with his church work.
In the fall of last year the member
ship became so large that the need of
larger quarters became more and more
apparent at each meeting. Finally, Bam-
Der Hall, on Linden avenue, the present
quarters, was hired, and since then the
Greenville Branch has held its services
there. The place when first entered by
the Baptists was thoroughly renovated,
~repapered and painted. New furniture
E>
was purchased, and in all a very cosy
meeting room was the result of these i'm
provements. Now the need of larger
quarters is again beginning to be felt
as the membership has greatly increased
since the present place of worship was
entered.
There is not the slightest doubt in the
minds of the Greenville Baptists but that
a church will be built by them before
much more time passes. This is what
they are aiming at and what they are
determined TO accomplish. For a great
many years the Baptists in Greenville
were compelled to worship with other de-
nominations until the branch was started
end many even went to the Bergen Bap-
fist Church, which Is a great distance
from their homes, although they were
not in amy way connected with that
church. The growth of the church is be-
ing watched with unusual interest by the
Greenwille peaple.
N-