The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-03-17
80 YEARS AS PASTOR.
Rev. DIR. Erdman TaIks About His Long
Service.
Written Originally for the CHRoN1cIE.

Service.
Written Originally for the CHRoNIoLE.
The Rev. DIR. Albert Erdman, pastor
of the South Street Presbyterian Church,
preached sermon on Sunday in which
he referred to the fact that it was com
memorative of his thirtieth year as its
pastor. His text was from Ephesians,
fourth chapter, second verse "The
Work of the Ministry" He said in part
To-day completes thirty years of ser
vice of the present pastorate.
'tOn March IA. 1869, it was my priv
ilege to stand before you for the first time
as your pastor.
"The text of the first sermon was from
III Corinthians, 42: Not handling the
word of God deceitfully, but by mani
festation of the truth commencing cur
selves to every mans conscience in the
sight of God How faithfully I have
followed out the principles of that in
spired word, is not for me to say Pain
fully conscious as | am of falling far
short of the high ideal-vividly, as the
many mistakes and failures rise up be-
fore mel can till say, in all humility,
| have not sought any other ideal, and I
desire no other. l think may make the
testimony of the apostle my own, I'VE
have not sought yours, hut you; for we
preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as
Lord and ourselves as your servant for
Jesus sake.
DR.. Erdman paid loving tribute to
the loyalty of his people.
The following statistics were given
Added to the church since March IA,
Adssd dsSs 99 6g SSRss..ion fssets Of faith ss fs
Sl.37l
yearly average of As.
The contributions for benevolent pur-
noses have aggregated the lnagnih- 80
cent sum or. .............. 4So2,I6o
pensee NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 279 70I
S56s, 4ss
Or S6s4 in excess of half million of
dollars.
DR. Erdman has baptized over 400
children, officiated at 252 marriages, and
$50 funerals
The sermon was full of interest and
delivered in Dr. Erdman's most eloquent
manner In closing he gave praise to
the Lord for all his goodness and loving
kindness" saying that "the old gospel is
still the new gospel, the truth never
grows old the eternal God and the ever
lasting Christ are in it,
The old South Street Church, frame
structure which was destroyed by fire
January 1S, 1877, and which occupied
the site of the present handsome and
we'll appointed brownstone edifice, was
built in 1910 and dedicated in 1S41 The
new church was dedicated July IL, 1878
Rev. Orlando Kirkland was pastor from
1841 to 1857 Rev. j. g. Edwards
was succeeded in 1861 by the Rev. Arthur
Mitchell, d. D., who was followed by
DR.. Erdman in 1869. Thus, it will be
seen, four pastors have served the church
since its dedication fifty-eight years ago.
DR.. Erdman, who for so many years
has been an esteemed and influential resi-
dent of Morristown, was born in Allen
town, Pa, of German parentage. He
was graduated from Hamilton College,
class of 1861, and from Union Theologi-
cal Seminary. For a brief period he
ministered to a church in Central New
York. resigning to go as the chaplain
of the l46th New York Volunteers, with
which he participated in the Fredericks-
burg, Charlottesville and Gettysburg
campaigns. He won warm place in the
hearts of the members OF his regiment,
by the faithful manner in which his
duties were discharged alike in camp and
on the battlefield.
Chaplain Erdman afterwards accepted
the pastorate of church in Clinton,
N. r., his old college town, where he
labored successfully for five years and un-
til he was called to his present pastorate,
which has been a remarkably success
full one.