The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-08-31
ST. Peters Church
Freehold and It's RectOrs
BY MAxcx APPRECIATE. SR.

The Friends or Quakers were about
the earliest sects to manifest activity
in M onmouth County, and there is ev-
idence In the Journal Of George Fox
that in 1872 some Friends were build
ing a meeting house at Shrewsbury,
but the exact location remains un-
known
George Keith was leader in this
sect and it was largely thru bis ilstru-
mentality that the meeting house was
built at Topanemus.
The first Friends meeting house at
Topanemus was probably a very
small building made of logs planed
one side for the inside. The one that
was built also on the top Of the hill on OF
near the same site was larger one
built to accommodate the Keithians
and Episcopalians, which were then
really only the latter sect. Where this
latter church stood may still be traced
by the declivity Of the ground, and it
seems to have been about 25x35 feet.
This building probably was shingle
one-story one with very steep roof
and was probably constructed soon,
after Thomas Boell's death in 1709-10.
The building was destitute Of
paint both inside and out and the
congregation in cold weather de-
pended on foot-wariDe ers with live
Goals" inside which each had brought
to keep them warm. The Episcopal
ians set up a modest altar and the
seates were benches without backs. !"
These sturdy pioneers and their wives
and children in the primitive wilder
ness, enjoyed the beautiful and time
honored ritual without fear or hin
drance and enga ged with all their
hearts and minds in the established form
of common prayer service to which
, they had been accustomed in the
Mother Country-paeanso of everlasting
praise that arose from the hill as
ancient sweet smelling incense to the
throne OF Almighty God. Their sons
and daughters doubtless sang the
hymns and srecited the different Off
ces appointed for the church just the
same as their parents had done in
Great Britain and devoutly transmit
ted to their posterity the doctrine of
pure and unadulterated christianity
George Keith was born at Aberdeen,
Scotland, in 1858 and educated at
Mareschal College with view, it is
said, Of becoming Presbyterian min
lister. Soon after his graduation he
renowned Presbyterianism and Joined
the Society," of Friends. He was in
duced by the leading Quak ers Of Lon
! don to become missionary to Amer
lea. Upon his arrival in America he
commenced hiS travels, preaching his
doctrine wherever he Went. During
the first four years after his arrival he
was employed as surveyor by the
New Jersey proprietors and ran the
line dividing East and West Jersey,
with Col. John Reid as Deputy Sur
veyor. In 1889 Keith removed from
Freehold to Philadelphia, where he
conducted the Friends public school
for one year. Again he commenced
to preach in different places and en-
gagged in heated controversies with all
who opposed his religious views.
Some Of these views not meeting with
those OF the Quakers he quarreled
wkh them, after which he went
to England and laid his case be-
fore William Penn, but that leader,
denounced him as an apostate and
warned the Quakers against his teach
ing Looking at it now Penn made
views as it would probably
Keith Is said to have been of decid
edly superior cast of intellect, an elo
quent and attractive preacher and an
able and ready controversialist
He was volunnious writer and wrote
fifty or more volumes some in bulky
quarto or pamphlets. He acknowledge
ed the errors of his earlier writings
about Quakerism and candidly
admitted his conversion to newer
thoughts and doctrines as he advanc-
cd in years. His declining years was
spent in tranquility among faithful
friends of his beloved Episcopal
Church in England.
Keith had a large following in his
belief among the Quakers and these
called themselves Keithians and upon
his return to this country as an Epis-
copal missionary these and those of
his new faith gathered at Topanemus
to hear him and he made many con
verts, among them Thomas Boell, who
owned the ground upon which the
meeting house stood, who at his death
willed the ground and the building to
the Episcopal church and bequeath-
ed sc to build the church.
Following is Thomas Boell's will in
full:
THOMAS BoELL's WILL.
In the name of God amen: The
Twentey day of March in the year OF
our Lord God 1909 10 /, Thomas Boel of
Freehold in the County Of Monmouth
and provence of New Jersey ;yeoman
being OF helth of body and of perfect
mind q memery, Thanks be given uD-
to god. But calling to mind the mortal
ity OF my body, knowing that it is APP
pointed for all men once to die Do make
and ordine this my last will & testa-
lnent, in maner and forme following.
That is to say first and principally l
give my Soule into the hands of God
who gave it me And for my body
commend it to the Earth to be bureid
in Christian & descent manner In the
bureal place at Topenapes Nothing
doubling but at the general Resur-
raction | shall Receive the same againe
by the mighty power Of God.
And as touching such worldly Estate
|wherewith it hath plesed God to blise