The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-22
interesting Facts in the History
of the First Congregational
Church Here.
DEVELOPED FROM THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
Present Body Organized in 1851
and Quickly Followed by
Others of Denomination.

ilSiVuS lctifuS ItSutllnk III the lOlIulnR
of the First Congregational. Church in
Newark goes back to the very begin
ming of the city's municipal life. How
it came about in Newark his
tory that the First Presbyterian Church
started as a Congregational Church.
while the First Congregational Church
was Presbyterian to begin with. is an
interesting chapter in local history.
Forty members from the First Presby-
terrain Church organized the Free Pres
byterian Church in 1884. This Free
Presbyterian Church became in 1851
he First Congregational Church of
Newark. But this tells only a part of
the story.
Newark started as a Congregational
settlement. It was so determined to
preserve the purity of its Congrega-
tional polity M spirit, that it adopted
laws protecting 1t. Her second minis
ter, however, the Rev. Abraham Pier
son, jr., whose father, the first minis
ter, gave the town its name-introduced
leanings to Presbyterianism. Except
ing three or four Scots, who had re-
Gently been admitted as planters, the
movement failed of popular indorse-
ment, n necessitated the retirement
of Mr.. Pierson as minister. The num-
Der of Presbyterian newcomers grew.
however, thanks to the liberality of the
original Congregationalist settlers.
Organized 1851.
But not till 1719 is there any mention
of ordination by act of presbytery. The
pastor leaned to Presbyterianism: the
people though were strenuous for the
old usages, and, though a small party.
chlef1y from Scotland. were already
among them favorable to his views, the
jealousy OF the majority went so far
assto break the pastoral relation. The
nsHt three ministers We're unquestion-
abby Congregationalists.
The First Congregational Church of
Newark was organized July 2, 1851. II
was formed, for the most part. from
what was then known as the Free
Presbyterian Church. That church had
been In existence for about seventeen
years, having beon organized by the
Presbyteryof Newark, May %, 1894, with
nifty members, forty of whom came
from the First Presbyterian Church.
After four years it became disconnected
with p~resbytery and remained indie
pendent.
The reason for this ''disconnection''
and this Independence" was the reason
for It's original organization, and is sug-
gested by the name adopted, the
Free Church. It's members took ad-
Narced ground at that early date when
abolition sentiments were more than
unpopular.
The Free church, from it's origin to
Its dissolution. was under the success
slve pastorates of the Rev. Peter Ko-
mouse. the Rev. Charles Fitch, the
Rev. William L.. Parsons, the Rev. Al
mon Underwood and the Rev. Charles
Beecher.
In June. 1851, the subject of a change
of church polity having been fully dis
cussed the Free Presbyterian Church
was formally disbanded. Immediately
afterwards 1t was resolved to proceed
at once TO organize a new church and
society on the Congregational basis;
and about 200 names including absen-
tees. were enrolled for membership.
The Rev. Charles Beecher. brother OF
Henry Ward Beecher. the acting pastor
OF the old church. was unanimously
elected to the pastorate of the new and
was installed by Council November I
1851. Mr.. Beecher resigned his charge
and was dismissed by Council in Feb
ruary, 1854.
In January, 1856, the church and So
ciety by unanimous vote invited the
Rev. William r. Brown, of Andover,
Mass. to become their pastor. Mr.
Brown commenced his regular labors
April | and was installed by aid of
Council Jun 81, 1865.
New Churches Organized.
Between February and June of that
year the church edifce underwent ex-
tensive repairs, On January is, 1868, the
Grove Street Congregational Church
was organized, and one-half of the or
igtnal membership were dismissed by
letter from this church to the new or
gantzation. Later in the same wear the
Belleville Congregational Church of this
city was organized; it was strictly a
colony from the first church.
On the organization of several new
churches in the neighborhood the New.
ark Associations of Congregational Minis
ters and Churches was formed in 1863.
In 1869 these churches of New Jersey
withdrew from the General Association
Of New York and organized the New
Jersey General Association. whose circuit |
extends from New York southwark as
FAR as into east Virginia. In 1877 the
Newark Conference of Congregational
Churches was organized. Twenty
churches took part in it's organization.
The pastor, the Rev. DR.. William 3.
Brown, on the death of his wife, Mrs.
Mary NJ. Brown, resigned his long pas
torate. April 81, 1878, to accept the Sec
retaryship of the American Congrega-
tional Union. On March 81, 1879, a large
II representative council was con-
vened for the installation of the Rev.
j. ~. Wilton, Phi. D., who had been
called to the p%astorate. He was dis
missed by Council May Z, 1886. From
December I, 1885 to July 1, 1887, the Rev.
Charles H. Everest was engaged as act
ing pastor. The Rev. l.. w. Haines
con5nenced his labors with the church
january !, 1883. The building of a new
rhukch edtfice in a more favorable part
the city had beensin contemplation,
eutsthis work Of building was not actu- !