Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-09-10
THE OLD, OLD STORY OF
THE OLD STONE CHURCH

ooA oho GHsllSH army moved
South from Jersey way back about
1880, although the Declaration of In
dependence had been signed four
years, the American soldiers. after
several futile attempts. succeeded in
erecting a church while their mus
kets, resting againt trees, still stand
ing. served as watch dogs. The place
was in Fairfield township half way
between Cedarville and Fairton. The
church was the one which opened it's
doors Saturday Old Stone
Church. The event as has been told
was commemoration service in honor
of the 200th anniversary of Presbyter-
ianism in Fairfield township and the
123d anniversary of the erection of
this, the Old Stone Church. The
building, is worn with years. crumbling
somewhat, yet it is marked with evi-
dence wonderful regarding it's preser-
vation. Plain in it's construction. it
mothered Presbyterianism in that To-
cality. and Saturday people from all
over the county gathered under it's
roof to pay tribute. The congrega-
tion comfortably filled the first floor at
each service, morning and afternoon.
The plainness of the church was
still in evidence Saturday Unlike
other churches where commemoration
service and anniversaries are held,
this was not decorated save only for a
few flowers placed at the front of the
room. There was no elaborate dis
play No green's. No flags. The SOL
emn building, situated in the heart of
the burying ground, proffered the
hand of welcome modestly, plainly
The high pulpit with the solid gate
enclosing it, and the winding stair
way leading up, with carpet worn
through in dozens of places. the old
Bible and communion service in cases.
are all there. The floor of brick, the
old fashioned pews, the gallery en-
closed by railing, dusty and hacked
by the small boys knife, and even
the two ancient stoves in the main
ais,es. all speak for themselves. The
stoves, covered with rust and ready to
fall apart, have thrown off their last
breath of warmth. Their work is fin
ished. The ventilator in the concave
ceiling is unique. 1t is space made
by the removal of big board torn
from the girders. The silent, harm
less insect in the zoology world has
fairly basked in the sunshine and
church silence Everywhere on the
ceiling his thread is perceptible. But
what harm? None. The walls have
done their duty. Hundreds and hun
dreds OF persons have been shown the
true path at the cross roads and from
the teachings under that roof men
have been made better AS printed
sentence in the church says, referring
to the Rev. Ethan Osborn. "He being
dead yet speaketh. - This sentence is
printed heavily in ink on a card
sealed from exposure to air and
framed in narrow strip Of black
cloth in solemn respect to that great
man
The picture of Mr.. Osborn, who was
Tor fifty five years pastor, hangs in
large frame under the high puplit and
! to the front The picture is also
draped in black. In the preachers
Eown handwriting under his picture is
written: 81 remain your cordial
Kfriend, Eshan Osborn'' There are no
Eother striking views except that now
and then window pane is missing
/ from the sash. The curtains, too.
Ethose of the fiat woodstrip tpye, have
Efallen from several windows.
How dear to the heart are the
scenes of childhood.
Morning Service.
Naturally, the meeting of the many
|old-time friends demanded general
hand nd-shaking, so few minutes were
Egiven to this. In this church, which
had been closed since 1880, when the
zone hundredth anniversary was cele-
Ebrated, and then previous to that had
mot been opened for all day service for
70 period of thirty years, congrega-
Ition sat, composed principally of old
people. It would be we'll to state that
the churohihassbeen opened OCCASION
1Rlly to hold funeral services. but not
For actual worship for over fifty
years.
! The Rev. W. j. Trimble, of Vine
land, who is supplying the Fairton
Presbyterian Church, opened the SER
vices soon after half past ten O'Clock.
He with the Rev. Heber H. Beadle,
|pf this city, and the Rev. D. B. Har-