The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-07-15
IN Old FOLKS MEETING
Seyenty-eighth Anniversary Of Mt
Freedom Presbyterian Church.

History of the Church with List of Former
Pastors and Elders -Endeavor Social and
Addresses Saturday Eyening-The sold
Folks" Indulge in Pleasant Memories.
| Many Morristown people, and others
from adjacent towns, visited Mt. Free
dom last Sunday to attend the special
exercises marking the seventy eighth
anniversary of the church. The opening
service was held Saturday evening under
the auspices of the Christian Endeavor
Society and the church was well filed for
the event. After the greeting by Miss
Carrie Coe, vice president, on behalf Of
the societys-a series of toasts were called
for to the honor and memory Of the
church from Rev. E. R. Perry, Arthur
Hubert and Rev. S. 2. Batten, Elder
/. N. Cumback responding for the
church. The exercises and addresses
were much enjoyed, as were also the
refreshments passed by ladies of the
Endeavor Society at the conclusion of
tl4O P1O3A0AAs
The Sunday services were full of in
terest. Nearly the entire membership of
the church was present and many former
members since removed returned to
shake hands with former neighbors and
delight in the "reminiscences of the day.
The day was also observed as a season Of
thanksgiving for victories and blessings
upon the country, the Presidents procla-
nation to this effect being read from the
pulpit.
| The anniversary sermon, preached in
| the morning by the pastor, Rev. R. j.
Lennon, on the text, / Sam. I, 9-12,
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped as, y
included brief summary of the church
history. The organization was effected
on July 9, 1890, by Rev. Samuel H. Cox
and Jacob Green. The same day E. D.
Wells, Jacob Drake and John Corwin
were ordained as ruling elders. From
the reorganization until November II, 1924,
the church was supplied by different
ministers, on which date the Presbytery
of Elizabethtown met at Mt. Freedom
and installed the Rev. Jacob Briant, a
member of that body, as the first regular
pastor of the church. The first building
was erected in 1928 or 1924, and though
at various times enlarged and beautified,
isstill used as the house of worship. Early
records show the original membership of
the church to have consisted Of twenty
persons, asfollows: REV. Jacob Briant,
pastor; John Corwin. Jacob Drake and
Elijah D. Wells, elders; Elizabeth Briant
(wife of jacob, Phoebe Clark (wife of
Stephen), Anna Bonnel widow, Mary
(wife Of David Lewis, Nancy Ianson,
Nancy wife of Joseph) Wheeler, Sarah
Wilkinson. Martha wife of Joshua) Hull
bert, Elizabeth wife Of Samuel) Comet,
Elizabeth Roberts (widow), Rackei wife
of Andrew Briant, Lydia Roberts, Jane
Roberts, Anna wife Of Jaeob) Drake,
Mary E. Lewis, Edward Lewis, Eliza
Roberts, At the present time there are
10s members.
Eleven ministers have served the
church as regularly installed pastors:
Revs. Jacob Briant, from Nov. II, 1924.
to April, 1916; Joseph McMurray y an. 6,
IS47, to April, 1856; Abraham William
son, April, 1856, to April, 1867; Elias r.
Fairchild, D. D., April, 1867. to Dec. A.
1870; Robert s. Feagles, Oct. 8. 1871, to
Dec. /, 1878; William w Holloway, Sr.,
Continued on Fifth Bdne.