The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-06-21
MT. PLEASANT
BAPTIST CHURCH
GROWTH STEADY
Big Edifice in BellevilIe Avenue
Sprang from a Small
Mission.
MEMBERSHIP NOW
NUMBERS MORE THAN 500
Dates Back to 1866 and Present
Building Was Constructed
in 1883.

An interesting history is that of the
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, located
In Belleville avenue directly opposite
Oriental street. Dating back to Janu-
airy 29, 1855. when the Newark Baptist
City Mission seeking to establish a
chapel in the Eighth Ward. purchas ed
the site of the old church. where the
congregation worshipped until 1881,
when the edifice in use at present was
erected.
Work was begun Immediately on the
chapel and the formation of the church
occurred in November. 1867. with thirty
one constituent members. The Rev. C.
E Wilson. jr, who had previously been
pastor of the Baptist Church in Sea-
vile, was the first to occupy the pulpit,
preaching his initial sermon on the Sec
ond Sabbath in February, 1867. He was
followed by the Rev. Edward A. Ginly
In 1872, who remained with the church
until 1877, when he in u was sue
ceeded by the Rev. George f. Rollin-
son. Mr. Robinson was pastor of the
church until 1881, when the Rev. F. c.
A. Jones took up the work. The congre-
cation had been growing. and in 1880
1t became necessary to erect a larger
edifce, Then it was that the site of
the present church in Belleville avenue,
opposite Oriental street, was obtained.
Sell Original Chapel.
The original chapel, now much too
small to accommodate the ever increas-
ing attendance, was sold to the United
Presbyterian Mission, n for nine
months, while the present home of the
congregation was being constructed, the
members of the church worshipped in
the Believille Avenue Congregational
Church. In December of 1888 the new
edifice was dedicated and In 1895 Mr..
Jones, after serving the church as pas
tor for fourteen years. left the pulpit
to labor in a new field. The Rev. Ed
ward Hainer next accepted the pas
torate, which he kept until 1903. when
the Rev. William r. S. Lumbar. the
present pastor, was installed.
s. Again Enlarge Chapel.
Three years ago it again became
to enlarge the church and the
was ItIllOuclCut uOupllUS lnE
seating capacity. At the same time the
Sunday school building was erected.
The cost of these improvements was
about $40, 900, making the total value of
the church building and property about
$4,000. Within the last three years
So 900 was paid on the mortgages, and
an old debt of 81, 200 was cleared. Last
year about s10.0 900 was raised and ex-
pended for all purposes. including
charities, salaries and mortgage.
The last report taken at the begin
ming of the present year shows a mem
of 50s. During the year 1908
sixty-one new members Joined the
and recently thirty-one more
baptized.
413 In Sunday School.
The Sunday school, which has a mem
of t~hirty-six officers and teach
ers and an enrolment of Alb, Is well
attended.
Previous to coming here Mr.. Lumbar
had charge of the Baptist Church In
Moorestown. The honorary officers of
church are: Peter Robertson, treas
urer; John Cowan, assistant treasurer;
George A Masker. treasurer of benevo-
James Clare. superintendent of
the Bible school; Milton A. Smith.
director. and Theodore Boards
ley, church clerk.
The deacons of the church are James
Clare, William z. Hastings. George A.
Masker, Horace S. Runyon, Noble ].
Bradley, George r. Demott n A. j.
Among the church organizations
meet regularly are the Bible
Class, Women's Missionary Circle, the
Lights. Christian Endeavor.
the Junior Christian Endeavor. the
League, the Y. NJ. B. C. and the
Two of the charter members of the
church are Mrs. Edward Counsellor,
an inmate Of the Baptist Home,
Ind Mrs. F. Kay. of 80 Stone street.
Both are still actively interested in the
church. Arrangements are under way
Tor the regular annual excursion of the
Sunday school to Pallsade Park, which
will take place next Saturday.