The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-02-22
HISTORY OF NEW HOPE PES BYTERlAN
SABBATH SCHOOL AND CHURCH.
Condensed from sermon preached Ian. 22d,
1905, by the pastor on the occasion of
the 18th Anniversary Of the Church.

niversary of the founding of our
church it might seem that there would
be little material for an historical adj
dress; but We are concerned as we'll
with the history of that noble organi-
cation which made possible the church
viz the Sunday School, which lis tho
oldest in this vicinity" Rev. P. A.
Studdiford Historical p. 23) When it
was first started New Hope was in
one of the most tlourishing periods of
her whole history. A few years be-
fore about the year 1912, there SO t.
tied IN New Hope William Maris who
came here from Phila., aud who did n
great deal towards advancing the in
terest of the town. At this time there
were but fifteen or twenty dwellings
but under him there was great boom
IN building, among the new places
erected being the large brick hotel
near the bridge and the home occu-
pied by Mr.. Richard Elv, RS well as
several factories aud miIls. lie was
also largely instrumental in the
building of the bridge IN lS13-l4 and
ablished a bank which was located
IN the west end of the old tavern,
now the Logan House. (Gen. Davis
History u 6Sj. Lambertville was
even less prominent at the time and
contained less than one hundred and
fifty inhabitants, Both towns pos
sessed bad reputation on account of
the dissipation that was carried on by
not only the inhabitants but by others
from the surrounding country.
1t is back in these days therefore
that the apparently much needed Sab.
bath School was started. There
seems to be no authentic records OF
the school. but the Rev. p. A. Stud
diford in an address made on the
occasion of the 50th anniversary OF
the lst Presbyterian Church of Lam
bertvllle on Sept. cath, 1872, states
TINT the New Hope School was foun-
died 81 or as years before that time,
which would make it to be the year
| 1918 or 1919. 1t WAS accomplished
under the ministry of the Rev. Mr..
Dunn, then pastor of the Solebury
Church, which had been organized in
the year 1913 The first wife of the
don. Samuel ID. lngham, Seo'y of
Treas. under Pres. jackson, appears
to have been the first superintendent.
Her distinguished husband always
accompanied her and also took part in
the instruction of the school. The
place of meeting WAS in the old Acad-
envy building which is still standing
and now occupied by Mr.. Scott
Orem and family.
Beginning with the arrival of the
| Rev. p. o. Studdrford in Nov. 1921
as tho first pastor of the Lambertville
Presbyterian Church, which was reg
ularly organized in Sept. 1892, we
| have some records that are of great
value in tracing the early history of
whom we are indebted for this is Mr..
Lewis J. Titus, who entered the
school as teacher in the Fall of 1898,
and in Apr. 1874 became the Supt.
holding that position until 1869, thus
having a connection with the school
ms teacher and Supt. for period of
over thirty years. On July IS, 1856
he wrote sketch of the schools his
tory up until that time and from
which we freely quote. Passing over
the obscure history of the school I'M
der the ministry of the Rev. Mr..
Dunn, he begins with the arrival OF
| the Rev. p. o. Studdiford in 1921.
''The school was organized by him
shortly after his settlement as pastor
of the Presbyterian Church OF Lam
bertville, Mr. Allan Breed was Supt.
and continued so to act for some four
or five yenrs until his declining health
forbade his further effort In con
nection with the school in the lower
room academy building) for tho
whites WAS one also III the upper
room for tho blacks which for some
five years was in very hourishing
| condition"
Examining more closely these REQ
ords of Mr.. Titus they would seem to
indicate that ms soon as the Lambert
Vile church got started the New Hope
School came under its influence more
than under that of the Thompson
Memorial Church, which would DO
very natural considering the geo
graphical situation. This is borne
out also by an interesting paper now
in the possession of the Studdiford
family which tells of an organization
| formed in 1923 aud composed of the
| teachers and officers OF the two schools
of Lambertville and New Hope. II
metfour times year for mutual bene.
fit when reports Of the work done were
submitted and general points OF in
terest in s. s. work was discussed
| DIR. Studdiford was President and the
last minutes recorded are dated 1881
thus showing very vital relation foi
about eight years, which must have
been very beneficial considering the
fact that both schools were yet in
their infancy, the bond OF friendship
must have been strengthened still
more when we remember that many
of those actively engaged in the New
Hope work were members Of the Lam.
bertville church.
Again looking at Mr.. Titus nc-
count we read that "Mr. Ed. Varian
was the next supt succeeded by Mr.
VIM. Hough principal Of the acad-
envy, who moving away was succeed
ed by Mr.. Jonathan Fisk. He lesv.
ing in 1874 was succeeded by the pres.
ent incumbent, l.. j. Titus, who dur
ing this time has acted in this capac.
ity save for some nine months ending
Jan. 1850, during which time the Of
flee was filled by Mr.. Edward Van