The Penn's Grove record., 1899-02-17
FORMER HISTORY.

liRious services as for education pur-
poses.
In 1888 the itinerant ministers on
this circuit Rev. john Walker and Rev.
William A. Stephens, began preaching
services in the school house. They soon
gathered enough recruits to organize a
class and appointed Jonn Carson class
leader. Among the pioneer members
of this class were Rebecca A. Cooper,
Mrs. J. e. Sheets, Mary Jones, Samuel
Creghead and wife and several Others.
Great revivals were held in the school
house in 1886, '37, '3S and '39.
1t was not long before differences of
opinion arose as to the polity of the
Church. A predominant number OF
the members held to the Methodist
Protestant belief of church government.
The Methodist Professionals built a
church in 1910 and having d regular
pastor, the meetings held by the Meth
odist Episcopal itinerant ministers we're
slimly attended tex years.
When James Long came on the cir
cut in 1947 the meetings were at the
lowest ebb and to his energy, perseyer-
ance and faithfalness, no doubt, the
Methodist Episcopal society owes Its
life. AT one time he came to the school
house to hold service and found the
building closed, and found also two OF
his members standing guard at the
door, awaiting the coming of the sex
ton to admit them; but he came not
and the trio knelt down in front of the
house, while Mr.. Long offered up a
fervent prayer to Almighty God for the
preservation and life of the little socie-
ty. and dismissed his congregation.
Here was the beginning of IA new era.
People began to feel anxious about SUN
day preaching and as the work on this
charge would not admit of q circuit
preacher devoting any portion of his
labor to this field, the society made ar
rangements with Jonas Chew to preach
for them every alternate Sunday morn
ing for six months.
In 1S49 the society agreed with the
Methodist Protestant society to hold a
series of meetings jointly, and to allow
the converts, if any, to join whichever
society they preferred, without solici
tation on the part of the old members.
This relation, like most others OF the
same nature, did not terminate as hap
PLY as desired by some, and the Meth
odist Episcopal branch rented Clark's
Hall for six months, and subsequently
rented a hall of Gideon Beeson, on Main
Street, where they worshipped about
four years. during which time the little
society %prospered, and in 1854 com
menced building IA house of worship,
and completed it in June 1856.
At this time Revs. W. l. Brooks and
]. |, Corsen we're on the circuit and a
few meetings added quite a number OF
substantial members to the Church.
In 1888 Swedesboro circuit was form
ed out of Salem circuit, and included
~Swedesboro, Paulsboro, Centre Square,
Perkintown, Scullt0wn Auburn i,
Haines Neck and Wrights School
House. In 1850 Swedesboro was made
a seperate charge. In the mean time
Bridgeport ard Asbury had come into
prominence and Bridgeport circuit was
formed of the remaining stations. One
minister resided at Bridgeport and the
other at Auburn. The circuit preach
ers supplied the pulpits every alternate
Sunday and the other Sabbaths local
preachers supplied the talent.
In 1856 Paulsboro was made a seper-
ate charge. The balance of tlis circuit
remained intact until 1860 when Haines
Neck and Wright's were put with
Sharptown station.
The Pedricktown NJ. E. Church hav-
ing been built in 1861, during the pas
torate of S. NJ. Hudson, after whom it
was named, in 1866 Pedricktown and
Centre Square were made a seperate
station. Auburn and Perkintown
another station, leaving Bridgeport and
Asbury a seperate station, since which
time they have remained under The
same ~pastorate. From 1867 to '69, during
the pastorate of Rev. j. l Corson the
church WAS repaired and the parsonage
rebuilt, and the close of 1869 there were
l0l members, - probationeis and 81
Sunday school scholars.
In 1882, under the pastorate of Rev,
j. Z. Diverty u debt of $1,000 on the
parsonage was paid and in 1888 the
church and grounds were beautiiied at
a cost of $500, without any debt re.
manning. In 1888 the society consisted
of 175 members and the Sunday School
$50, and the value of the Church pro
perty was valued at $500. Local
preacher, Jacob Holdcraft; Stewards
Jacob Holdcraft, William Kelly,
Freelan Hurff and Peter Torbert,
Glass leaders, besides the pastor and
local preacher, James Sparks, Henry
Lamb; Sunday School Superintendent
Lewis Kllle.
For La Grippe.