Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-22
WOMAN AS SAINT
FOR METHODISTS
Newark Conference Recalls
Fact That Margaret Dow
Founded Wesley Chapel.

The Halsey Street Methodist Epis.
eopal Church. the mother parish OF
the denomination in this vicinity, the
congregation of which will entertain
some ESQ clerical and lay delegates
to the Newark conference session
which opens in the church On
Wednesday, March 10, has enjoyed
a notable religious career. The first
New Jersey conference was held in
Wesley Chapel. the predecessor OF
the present ediflce, in 1887 In fact,
the movement to create the organi-
cation was made in the chapel, which
dated its existence from 1908.
The Newark district of the New
Jersey conference was instituted in
1858, and the coming session will be
the sixth to be held at the church.
The present structure. which sue
ceeded the original chapel. was ded-
ieated on November 25, 1862.
Among the pastors who will pay
the church a home coming" visit on
/ March 10 will be the Rev. william
Eakins, now at the Franklin Street
| Church, this city, who filed the pull
pit of the Halsey Street Church from
| 1854 to 1887, and the Rev. Jacob A..
Cole, secretary of the conference
board, now pastor of the First
Church, Passaic. who served the
local charge from 1901 to 1907.
1t was during the term of DR.. Cole
that the galleries were reconstructed
and enlarged, new pews added
changes made in the pulpit plat
form and the organ moved from the
east to the west end of the church
The present pastor, the Rev DR.
James Clayton Howard. succeeded
the Rev. DR.. Thomas l. Coultas in
1908,
Work OF Woman.
A woman, Margaret Dow, an apos-
tie of the Episcopal faith, was the
prime mover in causing the erection
of Wesley Chapel in 1908. She be-
came impressed with the doctrines of
John Wesley while on a visit to New
York and joined that faith.
Margaret Dow became so imbued
with the faith that she caused the
conversion of her father and brother,
the latter, John Dow, being ordained
as deacon in 1894 and later as a
preacher.
The cornerstone of Wesley Chapel
was laid in 1908 and the building,
costing $3.50, was dedicated on New
Years Day. 1909. when this city had
q population of only 5000.
In 1887 the New Jersey Conference
was created and held its first session
in Wesley Chapel. Fifty-five pastors
have served the congregation during
the last los years.
The present pastor. the Rev. DIR.
Howard, who is chairman of the
joint conference committee on pro-
gram and business, assisted by the
associate clerical members and also
the heads of the various church So
cieties, will extend the visiting dele
gates a most entertaining recep-
ton.
Samuel NJ. Tunison, president of
the Newark District Epworth
League, who is also head of the Hal
sey Street Chapter and member of
the board of stewards, will be a
valued assistant to DR.. Howard in
making the stay of the visitor en-
joyable.
Women who viii Entertain.
The Ladies Aid Society, under the
leadership of Mrs. Hedley j. Fry;
the Woman's Home Missionary So
ciety, directed by Mrs. II. c. Bla-
zure, and the Womans Foreign Mis-
sionary Society, of which Mrs. J. C.
Howard is president will share in
the entertaining.
The present official boards of the
mother church." who will see that
it sustains its reputation as beacon
light in hospitality and spiritual
good cheer, consist of ]. p. Contrell
z. F. Ludlum. Hedley J. Fry, DR..
II. L. Colt, c. w Roll. C. W. Jerole-
man and D. j. Brant. trustees. and
Samuel l.. Tunison, W. e. Bass
ford, ]. F. Millering, J. e. Steven
son, d. l.. Conway, Samuel r.
Drown, H. NJ. Young B. F. Reeves,
S. II. Clark. 3. Williams, Alfred
Baker, J. T. Mills, Thomas Harding,
w. MacKay and A. H. Holeman,
stewards.
The music at the convention
church is also in competent hands.
The chorister. Hedley j. Fry, has
directed the quartet and choral pro-
grams, which have been of high
standard, for several years. He has
been assisted by Miss Hattie Vausc,
the organist
Proves She's An Artist.
Mrs. Walter S. Blackford, the leading
soprano soloist of the chorus choir, is
closing her fifth year at the church,
In oratorio, cantata and anthem
productions, which have been fea-
ture of the Sabbath music, Mrs.
Blackford has proved herself an
artist
Prior to going to the Halsey Street
Church Mrs Blackford officiated as
soprano at the Union Street Meth
odist Church for seven years and at
the Central Methodist Church for two
years
The pastor, the Rev. DR.. Howard,
was appointed to the local charge by
the late Bishop Henry Spellmeyer in
1908, coming to the Newark district
conference from New York, where
he had ofiiciated at st. Marks
Church for eleven years. and at the
Kingsley Methodist Church in Rich
mond borough for five years.
He is affiliated with the Masons,
odd Fellows, American Mechanics
and other fraternal orders.