Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-09-26

Eastlaek, Keziah Ashcraft, Richard Rich
ards, James Dilks, Martha Dilks, William
G. Dilkes and wife, and since 1923, John G.
Eastlack, Thomas Davidson and wife and
David Chew.
The pioneer meetings were held FIRST in
private houses barns and groves. Amos
Eastlack's s house was known as the Meth
odist Tavern on account of it being head
quarters for Methodist prt ashers and lay
men, In 1894 the old school house was
built at Mantua when that became the
the preaching place. William G. Dilkes
was the lacal preacher and we'll did he fill
the Office assigned him, filling the gaps be-
tween circuit preachers
Meetings were continued in the old school
house until the building of the first church
ediice at Mantua, in 1916 or 1916, when
the following named persons were elected
trustees: Amos Eastlack, John Heritage,
James Dilkes, Abraham Park, William Ta-
tum, Thomas Carpenter What is now
Mantua was at that time and for many
years prior and subsequent, known as Car
penters Landing, named in honor OF Mr..
Carpenter who owned the dock there Amos
Eastlack, John Heritage and James Dilkes
were the pioneer stewards Of the Mantua
Church.
The second and present church was built
Ia 1889 or 1s4U and cost three thousand
dollars
The trustees at the time of purchase of
the lot were: Nathanial Chew, Nathan Chew,
Andrew L Chew, Jacob Swope, Abraham
Park, Joseph W.Paul and William Turner.
March 4, 1910, the trustees met at the store
Of SwoIe and Lodge according to public no.
tlce and it was decided by majority Of
votes that the lot adjoining the old brick
house shall be purchased and the new meet
ing house built thereon. The old house
that stood on the church lot was moved
across the road and occupied for several
years by Rev. Moses Crane, local preacher,
who for many years did efficient service for
his Master. and finally received the reward
of the faithful.
Among the preachers who have served
this church are Ress. John Walker, Thos
Fidler, Peter Van Nest, David Bartine, ,Sr.,
William Loomis, and in 829 Jacob Gruber,
and Josep Tiff, Thomas G. Steward, VIM.
Williams. Richard Petherbridge, George T..
Brown, Edward Stout, Benjamin Reed,
George Jennings, John Fort, Walter Bur-
roughs, James Long. 1.-TWO terms), James
Tucker, Daniel Adams, Hamilton Norris
and L. Herr.
The following list Of pastors who have
preached at Mant1a waE givsn by Mrs.
Isabelle Long, who has kepa fae record in
her Bible:
Dickinson Moore, 1878; William Chris
tine, 1880; - Atkinson, 1888; S. S.
Belfeld, 1884; Winfield S. Ludlow, 1886;
Mordecai C. Stokes, 1899; G. B Ogden,
1892; j. D. Webb. 1895; George W. Pine,
1897; Robert NJ NAPLES, 1900; F. E. Pur-
cell, 1908; w. Eiwooa Lake, 1905; P. W.
Bilderback, 1906 William Grum, 1907.
Very successful reyiyals took place in the
pastorates of Dickinson Moore, William
Christine, George w. Pine, and W. Elwood
Lake. The Epworth League was organ
lied daring the pastorate of G. B. Ogden.
During the pastorate Of Rev. Atkinson,
who was noted for his sweet spirit, the
debt was paid off the parsonage and also off
the church.
The Ladies Aid Society, originally known
as the Mite Society. was organized under
Dickinson Moore in 1878. An ;s1iitSsssg the
presidents have been Mrs. Hannah Dilks,
Mrs. Isabelle Long, who served 8 years, and
Mrs. Truncer, 8 years. The society has
been untiring in its efforts to better the
financial condition Of the church.
Church and parsonage now being free OF
debt, the people looked Iongingly for new
church. The Epworth League in their
business meeting October 18th, 1898, under
the pastorate of Rev George w. Pine, de-
cided that they would commence fund To-
ward a new church, and that they would
/ k.ix< crl,o Icn
sociation. At the meeting on November is,
1898, it was decided to take one share in
the Woodbury. Building Loan, and they
would pay back to commence the series be-
1 ginning May IL, 1898, also to take two
shares in the Mantua branch Of the State
Mutual Building Loan, commencing De-
cember 18, 1893. Committee appointed foI
this purpose was Charles Thurlow, Estella
Heritage and Mary E. Long
This was the first real effort toward new
house CT worship About the same time an
effort was made by some young woman who
styled themselves "The Bachelor Girls te
raise some money which resulted in twenty.
| five dollars being added to thefund The
Ladies Aid also conceiyed plan in making
what was known as century quilt. The
/ idea was conceived by the president, Mrs
Caroline Truncer. The quilt brought 5000
which was deposited in bank. The Sunday
school. which has been feature of thi
church, having some very able superin-
tendents, among whom are John J. Trun
Ger, Thomas Dilks, and George Fink, alst
raised 5000 The Epworth League S107
The Junior League $50, until the fund ha
swelled 10 $1,000.