The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-08
WOMAN STARTED
FIRST NEWARK
NJ. {. CHURCH
Halsey Street Congregation Old
est of That Denomination
in This Vicinity.
KNOWN IN THE OLD DAYS
AS THE WESLEY CHAPEL
Its Present Pastor, the Rev. DR..
James c. Howard, the Friend
of Firemen.

The Halsey Street NJ. f. Church,
which was started in 1903 as Wesley
Chapel, is the oldest Methodist church
in this vicinity. 1t has an interesting
history and an interesting pastor.
The Rev. DIR. James c.. Howard, the
present pastor, was appointed by
Bishop Henry Spellmeyer in 1908, and
he nae charge of the services at the
centennial anniversary of Wesley
years in New York city churches be-
fore he came to Newark.
The Rev. DR.. Howard was a chaplain
of the New York fire department while
he had charge of st. Marks Church,
New York, for eleven years, and chap
lain of the S. r. Smith Infrmary in
Richmond borough, while pastor of the
Kingsley Church five years. His wife
is a daughter of Professor Spangler.
head of the mechanical and electrical
engineering department of the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania. Their children
are a daughter of ten years and W
sons who are students at Jefferson
Medical College, Philadelphia. DR..
Howard was ordained deacon lin 1887
n elder in 1890.
Il am fond of the outdoor athletic
exercises of our young men," he said,
and l admire firemen and their work.
Il think our fire laddies are among
the real heroes of the age. Their life
Is n of constant danger. How many
noble things they do in saving life and
property! / know of tales of daring
among the New York ladies that are
stranger than fiction. This subject is
one Of my hobbies
DR.. Howard is also an ardent mem
Der of the Masonic order. He is a
wide reader, and when asked what
book he liked to read the best re-
piled promptly, "The Bible"
Started by a woman.
A woman, Margaret Dow, a member
of the Episcopal faith, was the pri-
mary cause of the building OF Wesley
Chapel, the mother of Methodist
churches in Newark, in 1908. 1t was
known as the Halsey Street Methodist
Episcopal Church for many years. 1t
was through her influence that her
brother, John Dow, was converted to
Methodism, and it was at his house in
i,CiiCNiiG lidl IL lISt movement was
begun that resulted in the erection of
the first building.
Margaret Dow went from Belleyille
TO New York on a visit in the year 1891,
and there she met people called Metho-
dists, who had services in John street,
said to be the first Methodist church
in America. She was impressed with
the doctrines of John Wesley, the faith
er of M~ethodism, and joined that re-
Iision.
Margaret BOWS influence converted
her father and brother, after the latter
had heard Thomas Morrell, a circuit
rider. preach at the first old Court
House In Newark, then in Broad
street, opposite the present First Pres
byterian Church. John Dow was or
dained deacon in the Methodist faith
In 1894. and became an influential
preacher.
David Bartine, an enthusiastic young
Methodist circuit rider, formed a class
Ct five Methodists in Newark in 1899,
end in 1908 there were fourteen in the
class. Services were held at the old
Court House, and later In what was
called the ''White S~choolhouse,'' at the
present Lincoln park. January %. 1903,
Richard Leaycraftr inc Charles Marsh,
of the Newark class, met with the Rev.
John Dow at his home, in Belleville,
where 1t was decided to build a Metho-
dist house of worship in Newark.
First Trustees.
Subscriptions We're obtained, a lot in
Halsey street was secured, M at a
meeting that fall in the home of Hobart
Little, in Fair street. now Lafayette
street, these were elected as a board of
trustees: Joseph Sanford, John Will
Jams, Aaron Baldwin, Thomas Taylor,
Ebenezer B. McLain. Hobart Little and
Richard Leaycraft. The corporate name
vas adopted of "The Trustees of the
Methodist Wesley Chapel in the Town
of Newark in the State of New Jersey"
Richard Leaycraft was elected presi-