The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-06-07
REV. MR. SHEPHERD
FREES CHURCH Of
DEBT AND QUITS
BelIevilIe Avenue Congregational
Pastor Goes to Nebraska
Passionate in September.
REVIEWS HISTORY OF
EDIFICE FROM START
Talented Preachers Have Filled
Its Pnlpit-Membership
Is a Large One.

After accomplishing an end that hat
been hoped for for so many years
namely, the freeing of the Bellevillt
Avenue Congregational Church from
its debt, the Rev. Theodore M. Ship
herd, it's pastor, will leave or Septem-
Der 1 to accept a call from the FRS
Congregational Church, OF Lincoln
Neb., the largest and most influential
church In that State.
At the fortieth anniversary of thu
church, held February %. 1905. Mr.
Shipherd told the history of the church
from its inception.
Speaking of its early lays he said:
The beginnings of our church &c
back at least as far as the year 1885.
It was certainly as early as SO that
a mission and Sunday school was estab-
<lished below Clark street, on Be1leville
venue j.. Fl. Denison, e. c. Collins, j. h
Shipley and David owen We're among
those responsible for this mission en-
terprise. Mr.. owen, who was superin-
tendent of the mother church Sun
day school, became the guiding genius.
The earliest records of the society
show that on January. "a, 1865, a
meeting was held In the chapel to
consider the organization of a relig-
ious society. j.. B. Shipley was chosen
CndlTIldh anu d.. IL DChlo0hs ~ n
The result was a notice for formal
organization, to take place February
3. At this second meeting the follow
Ing men were elected to serve as trus-
son. W. d. Russell, John Grant. j. J;
Marsh, ]. B. Shipley, J. r. Burnett and
David Owen. The first name proposed
was The North congregational So
the name be the Belleville Avenue
Congregational Society.
There were In all ffty-fve mem
bers, an of these sixteen are now liv-
ing, namely: Mrs. G. A. Burnett, Mrs.
G. c. Collins, Frank d. Conger. Mary
E. Denison, Mrs. C.. Al Foote, Mr.; and
i! Mrs. Daniel Frazer. Professor Charles y.
Hitchcock, F. A. MARCEL, Joseph J.
Marsh, Samuel Russell. Mrs. J. 3. Ship
ley. Mrs. A. Z. stiles, Francis Fl Strictly,
o. C. Woolson, Mrs. Agnes Hendry.
signed, ~whereupon Rev. c. 3. Hubert,
Of New Haven. Vt, was called to the
pastorate
some of the Pastors.
TIL Rev. George NJ. Boynton sue
ceeded Mr.. Hubert in the latter part
Of 1872, and remained until iSso. M
stone church, which forms the front
of the present edifce, was built and
completed for dedication on March 2S,
1875. The building cost about $4,000.
DIR. Ray Palmer Comes.
In 1851, DR.. Ray Palmer, ounce Oh
the Ray Palmer Club, took up. the
PASTORAL work of the church, and the
following year DR.. william Hayes
Ward became the missionary pastor
During this time DR.. George III. Hep
worth delivered m
Then the Rev. Hugh c. Pentecost came
. to the pastorate, and was succeeded in
1890 by the Rev. Samuel1. LOOMS. After
a short time the Rev. DIR. William a. Hice
was called. 80.
The ending of the fiscal year of 1906
marked the first time that the church
has found itself without debt.
In speaking today, Mr.. Shipherd said
he was indeed sorry to leave Newark
II have made SO MANY friends here.
,le said, that 1t pains me very much.
/ might say thai 1 nave never enjoyed
a stay so much as this one IN Newark