The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-22
UwNSGCTARIAB CHURCH.
-
Rev. E. Cullen Grimshaw's
Work in Organizing a
New Congregation.
vIcIssITUDEs OF a BUILDING
Old South Bergen Church Struc-
lure the Home of Many Creeds
Among the Churches.

A new congregation was started on the
Heights a week ago last Thursday even
ing by the Rev. L. Cullen Grimshaw of
Long Island. The new church will be
called the Church of Divine Fellowship,
and the place of worship is in the old
building formerly occupied by the South
Bergen Reformed Church, now the First
Congregationalist, on Bergen avenue and
Union street. The old structure stands
all alone there on the corner. Many dil-
ferent denominations have worshipped
there, and many were the enthusiastic
meetings held. When the new building
of the South Bergen Reformed Church
was completed the congregation moved
into the new and more luxurious quar-
tiers. leaving the little old church unoc-
cupied. in which condition it remained for
some time. 1T will be remembered that
the South Bergen Reformed Church did
not last very long after securing the new
place of worship. the expenses OF run
ming the large church being too heavy,
and soon it was deeply in debt.
1t was Their that the Rev. John L. Scud-
der took hold of it and, changing the
name to the First Congregational, Joined
it with the Tabernacle down town. 1t is
well known now how prosperous the
church has Eeen under the new manage
ment. For nearly a year after the little
church at Union street was vacated IL
remained unoccupied. Then came the
trouble between Ballington Booth and the
Salvation Army and the organizing OF
the Volunteers. 1t was the Volunteers
that wanted to rent this old church and
hold meetings there. but the Salvation
Army got ahead of them and hired the
hall. for which rent was paid for some
time before services were held there by
The army. The hiring of the hall was
simply to keep the Volunteers from get
ting it.
This continued some time with the Army
people holding services on Jewett avenue.
Then a new corps was started and placed
III the church building on Union street.
Services were held there for about two
months. but the Army never prospered
there, and was forced to disband- once
again the church was ~unoccupied and re-
manned SO for another year. Then the
congregation of the Colored Methodist
Church. which held service in the hall at
Seidler street and -Communipaw avenue,
realized that they were in need of new
quarters, and the old church was again to
be coupled. the congregation deciding to
hold services there. The expenses OF
running the new place of worship were
evidently tco much for the latter board,
and they were forced to move back to
their old quarters about two months ago.
The unoccupied building soon seemed in
danger of demolition. The boys threw
stones through the windows. the doors
were broken down, and the renee sur
rounding the building demolished.
1t was about three weeks ago that Mr..
Grimshaw, who has done much mission
work in his city, decided 10 start a new
church. He first called on Rev. John
Scudder and asked hrs advice about it. but
no encouragement did he receive. On the
contrary Mr.. Scudder tried to dissuade
him from his intention, and told him he
ought not to start a new church 50 near
prosperous and similar church. These
81 rords. however, had no effect on the
81 oung minister, who made a tour of the
4 Ill, and among his friends soliciting con-
ibutions with which 70 start the enter
dad Mr.. John Berger were among those
F5ho contributed, and with this the little
f,ld church building was rented. An enor-
nous amount of money was spent in
thoroughly renovating the building. put
ting in new windows, new doors and fur
niture.
The first meeting was held on January
13. The attendance was all that could be
expected on the first night, but since
then some very large meetings have been
utIu- AL tHiS WSeh II IhcSlihSS were
very successful. The young pastor real
ICES what a task he has before him to
build up a new congregation. but he is
determined to succeed. The Rev. Grim
shaw is a very young man, being only
twenty-five years old. He was born in
the village of East Hampton, L. L.. and
was educated in the public schools of
New York and Philadelphia. He was
graduated from a theological seminary in
Long Island a short time ago, after
which he went to Bridgeport. Conn.,, to
preach. He has also for some time past
lone valuable work for the White Rib
bon and Open Door Missions in this
city. He is unsectarian and therefore he
has received very little encouragement
from any of the pastors in this city, but
he is more than confident he will be
successful in his undertaking.
The services held on Sunday at 1890
A. M. and 7:45 P. M; Wednesday even
ing, prayer meeting, and Friday night,