The Lambertville record., 1919-05-02
Baptist Golden Anniversary.

The golden anniversary celebration
of the laying of the cornerstone of tn
present edifice of the First Baptis
Church which began on Sunday mark
not only an important epoch in thi
organizations history, but also tn,
ninety-fourth anniversary of the act
ual founding of the sect locally.
First organized on February 10
1925, it has continued without inter
ruption ever since, and has hac
twenty-five regular pastors, the lates
and present one, Rev. DR.. George Bod
| dis, having served more than twelv,
years, the longest period of any.
Elders James Mclaughlin and John
Booth first supplied the pulpit for
a period of six months, in 1925, and
Elder John C. Goble was called to
the pastorate on February 26, 1926
but declined, and Elder John Booth
OF Perth Amboy, was called on April
II OF the same year. Rev. Samuel
Trott, the first regular pastor, enter.
ed upon his duties from October 19
1926, to April, 1881, when he removed
to Delaware. James B. Bowen follow
ed, being given a general license to
preach on January 10, 1928, and was
dismissed by letter in April, 1880, to
become pastor Of church in Mont
gomery county, Pennsylvania. Ben
jamin Braker, of England, was given
license to preach on July 9, 1881,
and on September 10, of the same
year, David Stout was licensed.
From November 1881 to April, 1882
when Mr.. Stout took charge the pulpit
was supplied by Elder Joseph Wright.
Mr.. Stout was called as pastor on
June 5, 1888, and again on January a.
1884, and served until April 16, 1887
when he resigned to become pastor of
the church at Middletown, this state
! During his pastorate the membership
increased from 10 to So.
The church building, originally built
in 1925, was enlarged in 1885, and on
October 1, 1886, ]. S. Eisenbrey was
licensed to preach. On October 25
1887, call was presented to Elder
E. Saxton, which he declined, but one
extended to Daniel Kelsey, of Conan,
sey, was accepted, and he began his
pastoral duties on February 10, 1888
serving for six months.
Elder John Segur was called OF
November 10, 1888, and continued un
til April /, 1910, when Rev. George
Young, Of Burlington came and re
mained until March, 1S41, when h,
left for Paterson. Rev. Ellis B. Hal
and Rev. ]. B. Walter supplied tn,
pulpit for time, and the Rev, Georg,
Young returned in 1843, giving hal
his time to the local church and hal
to the Sandy Ridge church. He re
manned until 1874 when William B
Shrope was called, remaining unit
December, 1848.
Rev. John Davis, of Hamburg, Sus
sex county, was called on May 6, 1S49
when Lambertville first became an in
corporated town, and remained unit
August II, 1850. Rev. A. Armstrong
took charge on October &c, 1851, re
manning until November 80, 1860, dur
ing which period ITO persons were
baptized. A parsonage was built anc
the church enlarged and remodeled
during this period, being rededicatec
on March 80, 1854.
Rev. Henry A. Cordo, twice pastor
of the church, came first on May 1
1861, remaining until October l, 1864
and again from January l, 1898, un
til January 3, 1905.
Rev. Franklin johnson, of Bay City
Mich, served from December l, 1864
to June, 1866, and was succeeded il
September, 1866, by Rev. Charles E
Young, son of Rev. George Young, {
former pastor, who remained unit
January 10, 1869.
The cornerstone of the present
church was laid, with appropriate
ceremonies, on September 8, 1868, anf
the coporate name of the church wa!
changed by legislative enactment il
1869 from "The Lambertville Baptis
Church" to "The First Baptist Church
of Lambertville. The lecture room
of the present building was dedicated
on March II, 1870.
Rev. A. D. Willifer served as pastor
from September 81, 1869, to February
1874, during which period Lambert
vile became a city. Rev. Charles H
Thomas followed him, serving from
November 16, 1874, to December
1879. Rev. w. M. Mick served iron
May 2, 1880, to September Ia, 1884
and was succeeded by the nov
nationally famous Rev. Clarence H
Woolston, who remained from Dec
ember 7, 1884, to January 9, 1881
Rev. w. w. Bullock came to tn
pastorate on May /, 1887 and remain
ed until September 81, 1891, beinl
succeeded by Rev. Frank H. Coope
who served from April l, 1892, unit
October 1, 1898. Rev. E. M. Lightfoo
came on January l, 1894, and remain
ed until April 6, 1897, when he wa
succeeded by Rev. Henry A. CordC
previously pastor from 1861 to 1885,
D. E,.,,,,;e rb,,,.ob. sar,,aJ f-o,