The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-05-17
rs YEARS PASTOR
Bergen Reformed Church
Celebrates Anniversary
Of DR.. Brett's
Coming.
$500 IN A SILVER BRICK
Token Of Love Presented by
Isaac Taylor in Behalf
Of the Congregation.

Five hundred members of the Bergen
Reformed Church gathered last evening
In the big assembly room to congratulate
the pastor, the Rev. Cornelius Brett, .. D.,
on the fwenty-fifth anniversary of mis-
successful pastorate. Besides the menu
bers of the congregation a great many
out of town pastors were present TO hon
or DR.. Brett.
The speaker of the evening was CoIil-
selor Isaac S. Taylor, whose father was
pastor of the church for forty-two years,
ana then pastor emerities. Mr. Taylor,
in the course of his address, called Dr..
Brett to the platform and presented him
with silver brick inside of which were
nine $l00 bills, gift from tile congrega-
ton.
The ceremonies began with the Presi-
dent of the Ladies' Aid Society. Mrs.
Peter S. Van Winkle meeting DR.. ard
Mrs. Brett at the door of the lecture
room and presenting Mrs. Brett with a
beautiful bouquet of roses. A detacn-
ment of the Boys Brigade escorted the
pastor and his wife to the lecture room.
The decorations were beautiful. AT the
platform was bower of spring blossoms
and leaves. Roses and pinks were also
profusely scattered about the building.
Then Organist R. Gilbert rendered the
wedding march from "Lohengrin." Over
the platform was an electrical display
bearing the figures 1S7e-19O1.
After the organ selection all the mem
bers of the church personally congratu-
lated the pastor and his wife. All then
adjourned to the big assembly room
where Colonel ]. ]. Toffey welcomed the
congregation in behalf of the Ladies' Aid
Society. The Rev. E. L. Stoddard, Phi D.,
followed, representing the neighboring
churches. The eRev. T. j. Kommers con-
graduated DR.. Brett in behalf of the
South Chassis of Bergen. A letter was
then read from the Rev. J. M. Amerman,
assistant secretary of Foreign Missions
of the Reformed Church of America, who
is the only living former pastor of the
Bergen Reformed Church. The Rev. A.
H. Brush, D. D., of Long Island, former
seminary lassmate of DR.. Brett's, spoke
of their younger days together. The Rev.
Arney S. Biddle represented the Gamma
Sigma Club of Jersey City. of which DR..
Brett is the oldest living member. The
church choir then rendered a selection
ton address. He reviewed briefly the his
tory of the hurch, mentioning the four
pastors who preceded DR.. Brett.
In the two hundred and forty-one years
that the church has been in existence,
but five pastors have presided at the
church. These were DR.. Jackson, DR..
Cornelisen, DR.. Amerman, DR.. Taylor and
DR.. Brett. Bear with me for a few
minutes" said the speaker to DIR. Brett,
while I exercise the valued privilege of
attempting to voice the love which binds
you to US all, and rehearse the fascinat-
ing story of it's inception and its growth
although feel that 1 cannot do this in
fitting phrases, for the beautiful theme
deserves a better exponent. But I may
and will, in the richness of plain Anglo
Saxon bluntness, say all the people love
you and you have a dear abiding place
in each and every heart.
when you came you found two hun
dred and eighty in our communion-of
whom only forty-two now survive-and
the present registry shows membership
of 701 You have rejoiced with US when
we rejoiced, and three hundred times you
have pronounced the benediction on those
whom God has joined together in the
holy bonds of matrimony; and amongst
US your hands have sprinkled the bap-
tismal waters and your voice has called
for baptismal vows nearly 500 times
s'You have been President Of our high
est judicature-the General Synod-and
you are the President of our Board of
Domestic Missions. You have been sig
nally identified with the great Society OF
Christian Endeavor and been the presid-
ing officer of our State Board thereof.
and you have guided the operations of the
Hudson County Bible Society. And in this
municipality n your fellow citizens delight
to do you honor. And may you, like my
reverend father, be spared to partfci-
pate in the joy and festivity of the jubl-
lee celebration of a happy pastoral union.
"And now I am glad to be able to pro-
duce an exhibit which canot be doubted
1t proves the acts of the ladies. Inc ex-
nibit is the ladies' substantial proof,
gathered from the whole congregation.
that you are not a ladies man. but
that you are theirs-and 1 hand it to you
q 18th their request that you will accept it
and incorporate this little silver brick IN
the structure of your happiness during
the Gays of well earned prolonged va
cation, which I am authorized to say,
the Consistory will grant you.'
Here the speaker produced the brick
tied with silver cord Mrs. Brett opened
1t and lying therein were the nine hundred
dollar bills. May you enjoy it to the full
and never forget that you are a ladies'
man and your congregations best be-
loved" said Mr.. Taylor in conclusion.
Elder Thomas p. Ringle, of the Con-
sistory, announced that the Consistory
had granted DR.. Brett month more va
cation than given heretofore, making ten
weeks in all. 1t is doubtless the intention
of the congregation to have DR.. and Mrs.
Brett go abroad.
DR.. Brett came to the Bergen Reformed
Church in July, 1876, and delivered his
first sermon in the following August He
graduated from the New Brunswick
Theological Seminary in 1866 and his first
charge was at Flatlands in Long Island.
After the ceremonies letters were read
from these pstors. extending congratu-
lations:-Dr. D. J. Burell. of New York;
President o. Scott. of Rutgers College:
Professor Collins, Of Hopkins College Of
Michigan, Dr. Charles Herr, Rev. Fl. s.
Cronin, Rev. Mr.. Barnes, and the Rev.
John Il. Scudder
Among the pastors present were:-The
Rev. d. Van Cleef, DIR. Rice, DR. Wright.
Walter Swaffield, Rev. Mr. Henry.
Rev. =. Mayhem, Rev. MIR. Cussler Rev.
j.. Al. Brown and the Rev G.. g. Voeel