Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-09-05

made by the Rev John F. Fineauff and
a pastor appointed in the person of
Samuel Towle, who had served in the
mission in Labrador and also in the
West Indies. Despite the removal of
the old parsonage to higher and more
healthy place during the two years OF
his incumbency, he suffers from fever
and soon the more urgent needs OF
another field bring about his recall.
! Casper FTeytag, who comes few
months later remains only short time
he being incapacitated for further ser
vice by severe Illness. After that the
then pastor of the Philadelphia con-
gregation, Joseph Zoeslein occasional
| ~ visits the place. The last transac-
ton he records in the old church book,
| is the baptism of child, Joseph
Holmes, son of Israel James and Eliza
| beth (Airs) James. Too many people
/ had moved away to Philadelphia es-
/ pecially the younger members, who
went to the city in search of work or
at the promptings of ambition to push
i forward in the world. to warrant the
appointment of another pastor. For
time Methodist ministers held SER
vices in the church and in the year
| 1884 the request of the Episcopalians
for the use of the building was grant
ed. Thus ended the labors of the Nor
avian Church in this particular local
| ity.
To-day we are assembled at the call
of the Gloucester County Historical
Society to mark with appropriate ex-
ercises and a suitably inscribed tablet
| the site of the unselfish activity and
| devoted service that have been briefly
portrayed. 1t has been thought emin-
emily appropriate, therefore, to tell
something of the Christian characters
! of those whose names were particular
| ly connected with this church, of what
| they achieved in spending their
strength and of the difficulties they en-
countered. Some, perhaps many, OF
those here present are the children of
! the men and the women who We're ear
nest devoted members of this congrega-
/ ton. Tn names Airs, Crawford, Der
ickson, EastIack, Gill, Guest, Hopman,
Heldermann, Katz, Lloyd, MADEIRA,
Murphy, Shute, Taylor. Van Iunnen,
Wood being prominent in the records
of the congregation, the people being
principally of English or Irish stock,
some few the descendants of German
or Dutch or Swedish settlers. Those
descended from these people are re-
minded by this occasion that godly
ancestry is a priceless heritage. We
employ various figures and expressions
to tell of its force and worth. 1t is a
mighty impulse in the right direction.
| 1t is a holy oil, amounting for holy liv-
1 ing. 1t holds up splendid ideals Of
sacrifice, labor and faithfulness.
For us all the occasion has its signif1
canoe. These exercises are to the
I glory of God and in remembrance of
those who here spent their strength in
noble service. Though the Moravian
work here came to an end and the clos
| ing of it in some respects may have
! been pathetic, it was not failure. 1t is
beyond one province to measure the
success or failure of effort of this char
acter, for the chief facts that must en-
ter into the estimate, will not be
known until that great day when every
mans work shall be manifest. So
much we do know, here the word of
truth. here the Lord was worshipped,
here men whose souls had been revived
by divine grace gave the strength of
their hearts to the building up of
Christ's kingdom.
Furthermore, the past we have here
reviewed presents with particular
| force two thoughts for the instruction
and inspiration of the present. The
work of those unselfish itinerants, out
of which the congregation at 0ldman's
Creek sprang, in their day often mis-
understood and misinterpreted, draw
/ ing upon them the charge of prosely-
tism, of laxity in doctrine, of Jesuitical
method, but now better appreciated,
shows what unity of evangelistic eff
|. fort may accomplish. Again, the effort
to rear this very structure, involving
self-denial and patience, had for its
motive according to statement in diary
Fsof 1856 True zeal for the gospel.
This work and this structure to unmis-
takably testify that for accomplishing
worthy end. for extending the kingdom
of God on earth there are no more eff
fective forces than unselfish devotion
and true zeal for Christ.
America, was sung by the Melody Club,
after which Mr. George B, Macaltioner, Of
Woodstown, madea brief address on the
Early Ministry and People,
The doxology was sung and Rev. F. J.
Collier, Of swedesboro, pronounced the
benediction.
INSCRIPTION ON THE TABLET.
Near this site A. D., l747, the Moraviana