The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-02-22

stone vas laid by Dr.. McWhorter in
September, 1887, the building being
dedicated January 1, 1891. The CEN
tennial of this event was observed in
the church in 1891. The church society
was organized 242 years ago, and the
two hundred and fitteth anniversary
will be celebrated eight years hence, in
1917.
The Rev. DIR. Frazer was born
in Maryland about three-score
and ten years ago, and he is nimble in
mind n active physically. In his
sermons and in remarks at meetings
of the P~resbytery of Newark and else
where he has always struck at a
wrong in vigorous language that every
one could understand, for he meant
what he said and said what he meant,
as he will do until he passes the gates
of heaven. His congregation last year
gave a total of 1922, 224 for outside chart
ties, not including what 1t contributed
for orphan asylums, homes for the
aged, hospitals and other institutions.
And the old First Church will also pay
its share of the cost of lighting South
Broad street with the flaming arc
lamps. 1t has ever responded to calls
for aid for the poor, the orphans and
poor widows, for help for smaller
churches and Sunday schools and for
patriotic purposes, and "Old Glory" is
always flung to the breeze from the
old steeple on every patriotic occasion.
Church's Many Pastors.
The pastors during the az years of
the existence of the church were Abra-
ham Pierson, ST., from October l, 1861,
to August 3, 1913, a little less han
eleven years; his son, Abraham Pier
son, Jr., as assistant and pastor from
July rs, 1863, to April 2, 1892, over twenty
years as pastor; John Pruden, April
~, 1882, to June 8, 1899, pastor tour
years; Jabez WakeInan, November 16,
1853, to October 20, 1904, about four
years pastor; Nathaniel Bowers, June
16, 1I0Y, to August l, 1l16, pastor six
Joseph Webb, December 10, Ills,
10 November, 1885, pastor seventeen
years; Aaron Burr, father of Aaron
Burr, jr., who became Vice-President
of the United States, December, 1886,
to 1155, pastor eighteen years; John
Brainard, 1755, to May, 1853, about four
years.; Alexander MacWhorter, d. D.,
1853 to July 20, > 1907, pastor nearly
forty-five years, serving during the
American Revolution, and he assisted
in Washington's war council, which
decided on the crossing OF the Della
ware, and the after victories which
changed the despair Of the patriots to
hope, and the f~ruition Of which was "a
free and independent American repub-
lie.
Other pastor were: Edward d. Crit
fin, October 20, 1901, over five years
with DR.. MacWhorter, to April q, 1899,
two years as pastor; James
Richards, D.. D., June /, 1909, to fall of
1879; oven fourteen years; William L.
Hamilton, D. D., July q, 1924, to Oc-
tober %, 1884, ten years and five
monthsj Ansel d. Eddy, D.. D., August
Ii, 1885, to February -, 1S4S, pastor
years; Jonathan f. Stearns,
ID. D., installed pastor December 10,
lS49, served twenty-tliree years, when
retired, and the Rev. pr. David r.
Frazer, the present pastor, who vas
installed twenty-six years ago, the
fifteenth pastor OF old First Church,
whose history is the history of early
and later Newark, and the old church
has many daughters, the Oldest being
Trinity Episcopal Church. though it is
Of a different denomination.