Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-03-28
GREAT GROWTH CT
CHURCH REPORTED
CONTINUED from First Page.)

the Union Street M. 2. Church and
Grace Church, in tic alled Iron
bound District"
His report follows:
An experience of three years upon the
Newark district has shown me that the
phically, but practically, is found on the
corner of Broad and Market streets,
where one may take an electric car either
directly or by transfer to almost every
point on the district. Let us begin at
that point. and from it make a series of
journeys past the churches of our field.
On our first trip we face the rising sun
and travel down Market street. We pause
Sfor a moment before the noble edifice of
the Central Church, whose tall spire Is
significant of the prominence which this
church holds in the city of Newark, as
the result of the fifteen years continuous
pastorate of one strong man. Here on
by stores and factories, with only a small
resident population, a great congregation
gathers. The trustees of Central Church
have leased certain property adjoining
the church under ground rents on terms
which will insure for generations to come
the permanent support of this institution.
May there long be a Morgan to stand in
its pulpit.
We cross the Pennsylvania railroad and
ind ourselves in what Is popularity known
field, bounded by the Passaic river, the
meadows and the railroad, we have two
churches doing gallant, service in the face
" q vast din lltICdSIuS lOIGlE1 DOpuld-
ton. Union Street has made a remark
able gain of thirty members, many hav-
ing been brought into the church through
the labors Of Rev. Thomas Houston, the
blind evangelist. This church is thorough
ly organized, and its boys club is a model
Of active work. Grace Church, on the edge
disbursement, but its congregation has
increased, twenty-three nave united upon
profession of faith, more than 500 has
been raised upon deficiencies of the past
and the people are hopeful and united. If
the two churches in this district. Union
Street and Grace, could be combined, and
one church in a central location could take
the place of two. our work would be
strengthened.
The italian Church. on South Market
begun in a new field, to be noticed later.
We cross the Passaic river and
find ourselves in Harrison, where
sents us. This has been a year
of peace. progress and prosperity, due. to
the wisdom and energy of the pastor,
whose first year has brought the church
into a new life. A mile south of Davis
Memorial we come to Grace Church,
Kearny, where we find a new parsonage
built, and 81, 700 of the $4,000 cost provided
for, thereby saving a rent Of $500 per
year. The pastor reports an increase of
twenty-eight members. Arlington shows
continued success, eighty-ive new mem
bers received, a net gain of forty-seven;
ali bills paid and large congregations In
attendance.
we lCAAAA ~ "a "a III punt at 1hN
-Four Corners and enter upon our second
. journey, following. Broad street and Belle
vile avenue to the eastern limit of the
district. One block north of Broad street
we visit dear old Halsey Street, the
mother of all our W churches, and
still strong although in the midst of a
ty in membership means the reception of
twice as many, as there Is in this sec
ton a constant drain through removals.
No church can be more thoroughly or
ganized. and few churches are doing bet
ter work than Halsey Street.
Eighth Avenue Church stands on the
edge of the largest and most prosperous
Italian colony in the city; yet It has
held its own, and has added to its mem
bership fifty-fve names, partly from the
| accession of st. Andrews, of which the
property was sold and the membership
going to other churches, the larger num-
Der having chosen Eighth Avenue. The
1t has never been needed, but II will
mark a loss Of one appointment upon the
district.
Not far from Eighth Avenue Church
the italian Church has been reestablished
this time not as an Independent organi-
cation. but as a mission under the super
with aid from the Newark District Church
Society. We come next to the Centenary
Church with its large membership, having
a gain of hfty-three names during the
year. Its members are united, every de-
partment is at work. the Sunday school
is growing, and the prayer-meeting, often
VII IN II aLANlhahkCF Io oil lhCPClo ~
On the same avenue with Centenary, but
nearly q mile beyond it, is Summerfield.
This ~enterprising people have purchased
. fine location for a new church in Mt.
Prospect avenue, where we hope another
year may witness the rising walls
of a new structure. At BelleVille the
church building, less than ten years old,
will no longer hold the growing Sunday
school. The Junior Epworth League, I'M
der the care Of the pastor, has been doing
splendid work in Bible study, and is worth
visiting as an object lesson in methods.
Nutley Is growing and enjoying its beau
tiful building. Its two large mems Bible
classes show what rood teaching and a
spirit of loyalty can accomplish, and Its
vested choir, from its own young people,
Nutley is our last charge toward the East,
and we again return to our starting point
at Broad and Market.
Our third trip Will be along the line OF
the old Newton turnpike, now Bloomfield
avenue. Our first station is at the district
known as Silver Lake, where Newark,
Bloomfield and Belleville come together
This is an Italian region, and in the cen.
tire Of IL the Centenary Church has planted
a mission, which has already ontgrown the
building leased for it's work. We expect
soon to purchase a site and erect a chapel
through the combined efforts of Centenary
Society. There are more than fifty thou
sand Italians in Newark, a surprising
number of them are property-ownArs ant
citizens. and their children are, already
Americans. Very few OF them ave any
religion whatsoever, for they have ceased
to be even nomlnaI Roman Catholics, anf
lfhni- rhttdrAn are In danger ofeKrowlnt