The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-11
CALDWELL.
VERONA N
ESSEX TELLS
STARTED IN A BARN
HUMBLE ORIGIN OF CHURCH
IS RECALLED.
Fifteenth Anniversary of Arlington
Avenue Presbyterian Parish, East
Orange, Observed.

Tho fifteenth anniversary of Arlington
Avenue Presbyterian Church.. East Orange,
which had its beginning in a humble man.
ner in a barn. was celebrated yesterday
under the direction Of the Rev. DR.. John
M. Thomas, the only pastor the church
has ever had, and who will leave next
summer to become president of Middlebury
College In Vermont. Various meetings
will be held this week and a dinner by
h Mems Club on Friday evening will end
the celebration.
In his anniversary sermon Or. Thomas
recalled that the first meeting for the for
nation Of a church in that section Of East
Orange was held April q, 1891, at the home
Of Mrs. Pierson, 201 Arlington avenue, at
tended by DR.. Mead. a Dutch Reformed
clergyman and six men. At the third
meeting women became Interested and were
welcomed In promoting the project. The
hrSt difference of opinion also arose at
that meeting. The plan of DIR. Mead. said
DR.. Thomas. was the immediate formation
OF q church and the erection of a memorial
building, q memorial to anyone who would
help erect II. Opposition was voiced to this
project by the late Henry H. Hall.
mi. Hail." continued DR.. Thomas. de
clared his judgment firmly that the church
should call the man. and not the man the
church., that a memorial structure to one
or two individuals would not be wise, and
In general that the people of the neighbor-
hood would best manage their affairs by
tHcIlStlFeS. III ndu TO ne 0one, ana he was
the man to do it. The air was cleared.
and from that moment 1t began to look
as II something might come of the enter
prise But Mr.. Hall went home that night
In greatest distress, told his family that tie
was a murderer; that he had killed a
church. Before he slept he vowed that II
anything he could do would in any wav
further a religious body among his neigh
bors. he would do 1t. and he kept that vow
In all fidelity to the dav Of his death.
The church first held services in the
barn and carriage house at 20 Hamilton
street, which was made somewhat com
Portable for the religious services. A nic-
ture of the barn now hangs in the Sunday
s nn The suggestion to use this build
believed. When a vote was taken as to
what denominatoin the people should fol-
low, the Presbyterinns were in the major
ity. The first meeting in a private house
was on April q, 1891. and in the harm on
June 10, that year the church had ffty-nire
charter members and six denominations
Miss ]. Louisa Travis. who lived at 1f3
Walnut street. East Orange. gave $1.0O0 for
the lot on which the church was eventually
erected. besides a special subscription
through the women of $3.0O toward the
building and $4,000 for the organ and the
bell, which are in memory of her parents,
ana she also later made a eques of s.. 900.
which cancelled the mortgage that had
rested on the church for one year. A
tablet In the church states that Miss
bell the people together for the
first worship in the church.
There hav been received 1872 persons into
membership. DIR. Thomas bantized 12o
children. The present membership is s1s.
The present value of the pronerty repre-.
sents gifts averaging about $4,000 2 year
for permanent additions. 1t includes The
present Sunday school room, built in 1907.
at a cost of $4,000. which includes the
furnishings and the parsonage and lot.
costing 81, 900. of which one-half has been
pa1d, the remainder having been sub
scribed
IN conclusion. DIR. Thomns said.
when other orga nizations will he hold
ing their own, their parishes STATIONARY
our viii be forging ranidly ahead. A
united spirit, a hearty spirit. a spiri4 Of self.
sacrifice and loyal coroperation viii o~.ai1e
you and many with you TO thank Cod oil
are offered. "" w.
One of the things for which 7 am most
deeply grateful Is the liberty Of nulni-
ntterance which you nave nrccressivnlz
aiioWed me, and I trust you will contanuo
THIS FAVOR to whomever may stand here
ana that whoever may lead YOU may an.
else of IT." @ u eNei-
Exercises were held in the mornirq hy
.ne sunday school. and addresses wero DO
nvered by James Bingham. who was chair
man or the working committee. ami David
y, Holmes. the first superintendent Tho
scnooi has been considered always q fea-
ture or the church and has n large mem
bership. 10 "e"i