Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-04-11

ing meeting house at his disposal
The thoughtful kindness was accepted,
and larger congregations than ever gather
ed, but the most complete yindication OF
the course and conduct Of Bryzslius came at
later date when his erstwhile opponent
apologized for his procedure.
During the fifteen years from 1745 to 1760
quite number Of preachers ministered 50
/ the Morayian Churches in New Jersey a
portion OF them were Englishmen, Welsh-
men and Scotchmen. During this time the
following were the preaching points: Three.
Rivers, Lewes. Duck Creek, Maurice River,
PENIS Neck, Raccoon, Cohansey, Ammas
Land, Calkoen's Hook, Cape May, Egg
Harbor, Bridgeton, Burlington, Middleton,
Trenton, Crosswioks, Maidenhead, Gran
berry, Princeton, Brunswick, Walpack, and
Pawlin's Kill. The evangelist who labored
among these people cared only for their
good. They were content to be at no
charges among those to whose highest good
they minisbered; satisfied with most fru-
gal support furnished them by the indus
trious artisan and laborers who were prac-
ticing equal self-abnegation at the Easton,
Pennsylvania, Forks of the Delaware, that
the word OF God might be free to all in the
land. 1--WE seek not yours but you could
be said by these men with literal truth.
Compensation was neither asked or expect
ed. To certify believers Of their sure por-
tion in Christ, and to awaken those who
slumbered in unrepentant sinfulness was the
aim of these early Morayian pioneers in the
Jersey 's,-not to make proselytes for the
Morayian Church Bryzelius was identified
with tho erection Of church at Maurice
River, in Cumberland county. At first it
was plain log structure, ceiled with
boards, and lighted by few panes Of glass
One step from the floor was his chair, which
answered for his pulpit. The sexes sat
apart, upon plain wooden benches and
which had no backs. The latter were
deemed too much Of luxury The offer
ings were received in a velvet bag affixed to
a long pole. In prayer they all knelt on
the floor, ,sbsewn with white sand. This
primitive meeting house was formally dedi-
Gated on December 18th, 1746 Thereafter
Rice preached every third Sunday, and
called for school teacher to teach sixty
children.
/ About the same time was another church
at PENIS Neck, between Salem Greek and
the Delaware. Here dwelt the families of
Hopman, VanImmen, Kyn, Peterson, Kemp,
Cobb and Mulliea. The church at Raccoon
was re- occupied by the brethren and ser
vices were conducted in Swedish, followed
by English. It opened with twenty four
members. Among the preachers there beside
Reenke, were Newberg, Westman, the lat
ter an Englishman.
Whilst destined in the course Of time that
HI DISTINCTLY Moravian churces in New
Jersey should be abandoned, the church at
Racooon on Beaver Creek after being closed
to the Brethren for upwards Of four years,
was re- occupied by them in March 174e,-
services being conducted in Swedish, and
at later period in English Preaching
appointments were frequently filled from
Philadelphia by Newberg, Eric Westman,
James Greening and others, but it was the
church ab Piles Grove or Oldman's Greek
or Woolwick, seven miles from PENIS
Neck, dedicated by Bishop Spangenberg in
1749 which was destined TO have the most
prolonged annals. At this time it reckoned
twenty -one members amongst the rest, one
Samson, slave Of Samuel Lynch. Freder-
ick Schmidt was the pastor during the
Revolution, being in charge until Septem-
! Der 1888. Schmidt's diary occasionally
echoes the clash of arms, but to quote the
diary Thursday, September II, all day
long there was strong cannonading, and
afterwards we heard that battle had taken
place between the two armies at the
Brandywine River. October 1st, all are in
alarm. Brother Miller leaves for Reading.
An English troop has landed three miles
from here. x
October %. Fearful cannonading, shook
the house like an earthquake. 1t was the
action at Red Bank On December 9th,
twenty American militiamen were quarter
ed in the parsonage. February 25th, ITS
over two thousand English troops pass on
their way to Salem. The house was full Of
soldiers polite-but carrying off trifes. 9
At the close Of the war, the membership Of
the congregation IS reported at 1874, num-
Der which only once again reached. ReY-
Frances Boiler, who succeeded Schmidt, was
not without encouragement. He reported
/ to the Ministerial Conference held from
June 18th to 18th, 1856. Our meetings
are well attended, although not only by our
own members, but also Presbyterians, Meth
odists and Quakers. About twenty children
attended the school, and once in forenight