New-York tribune., 1907-05-05
Historic NEW JERSEY Meeting
House Still Maint aims
It's SPOOKY REPUTATION~
By Mary w. Mount.

one OF the most interesting OF the historic
places which dotted over New Jersey is Old
Tennent Church. beneath the shadow of whose
spire the Battle of Monmouth was decided and
Light Horse Harry" Lees retreat was rallied
and changed into victory by Washington Even
on that hot summer day. more than a century
and quarter ago. Washington spoke of Tennent
as the old church" yet its appearance to-day
seems scarcely altered from the time when its
spire rose whitley against a dark avenue of
cedars above the smoke of battle that surged in
the heated plains below
Even to-day the bloodstains of battle are i'm
printed. darkly red, upon pews of the old church
where wounded men were laid 10 die beyond
reach OF the scorching rays of the sun
traditions differ as TO the date when the con-
gregation Of Scotch Covenanters first gathered
there for service. One tradition agrees with
church history that it was in the year 1855 and
that II was visited by George Kieth the re-
vivalist, I'm 1854. In 1871 this congregation
ouiit what was in those days an imposing
church ediice about four miles from the original
church and cemetery. carrying thither all the
carefully wrought materials of the old church
that could be transported. The front and main
body of the edifce stand to-day as they did IN
lI3l, minus a few hand beaten nails and shinele
chips stolen by modern curio vandaIs The
church was enlarged toward the back and one
little storm vestibule on one side which is
itself older than this generation can remember
That savage visitors We're both welcomed and
feared by the congregation of the Scots Meeting
House is shown by the fact that the communion
table OF the Indians is still intact its two white
painted boards nailed by hand beaten nails 70
narrow bars underneath and supported bv four
short legs one at each end of the front and the
other two near the middle Of the back; and that
the doors of the church have thick iron bars.
longer than mans arm and swung from great
spikes into thick iron sockets The main lock
OF the door. too, is an immense iron box a fit
companion 20 such key as one might find in a
museum. but hardly anywhere else in these
days.
The original trustees of the PRESBYTERIAN
Church Of Monmouth County" TO whom the
charter was given by George II on February 81
a7sS. were John Little jr.. Christopher Long
street Jonathan Forman, John Anderson James
Robinson. John Henderson. Stephen Pangborn.
Robert Finlay and Tobias Polhernus, nearly all
ef whom lie buried IN the Old Tennent church
yard With the exception of Little. Longstreet
and F1niay. numerous descendants Of these men
sttu 1--we IN the villages adjacent
In recent years the congregation of Tennent
Church has kept a visitors book, and some idea
OF the fame Of the church may be gathered from
the fact that names appear there of residents Of
india japan. Mexico and Of nearer countries as
well as most OF our own states One OF the roost
interesting OF the modern names is that OF
Joseph Story, Of Boston, whose grandfather DR.
Elisha Story. Of Boston. surgeon in the
army under General Washington. and probably
WIS In attendance upon the wounded In this
very church during and after the Battle OF
Monmouth
Twice lightning has struck this historic ed,
nee. once the bolt flashed down the church and
tore 10 pieces water barrel at It's side The
second polt glanced down the spire and killed a
man beneath It. occasioning only slight fame
In the steeple. which was instantly extineuisbad
by rain