Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-19
old BETHANY
centennial
st. Johns M. E. Church of
Report Will Conduct a One
Weeks Celebration

y SCtCbi QklOIt
KEYPORT. Oct. 19.-Beginning
October 20 and continuing through
November 5 St. Johns M. f. church
will celebrate the centennial of Old
Bethany church from which st.
Johns was formed, also the semi
centennial of the founding of st.
Johns M. E. church which has never
ceased to grow since its first congre-
gational meeting in 1879.
st. Johns M. E. church, located at
South Keyport, is the successor to
the Old Bethany Church Society or
Kanized about 1900 at Bethany near
olmdel. The first members of this
influential old church were of the
families of Carharts, Murray, Polin,
Hoff and Bedle, the first meetings
being held in the home of Thomas
Murphy.
In the year 1922 a lot, purchased
for SIS from John Dorsett and ,on-
tanning a quarter of an acre, was
used for the placing thereon of the
Old Bethany church of which the
early pastors were Rev. Mr.. Weed,
Belts, Walker, Moore, Lang. Stuart,
Mclaughlin.
From this old influential church
sprang the churches of Keyport and
other surrounding towns.
With the growing of membership
from this section the church build
ing was removed to a lot at South
Keyport donated by Andrew Polling.
being dedicated in 1871 and among
those present at this service was the
Rev. Bartholomew Weed who took
part in the dedication of the Old
49, TO- 4 q pnry tNnad
oficiated at this service also.
The present edifce is part of the
old church which was removed to
South Keyport from Bethany and is
now a most modern church build
ing, included in it's possessions are
comfortable seats, beautiful church
furniture and a handsome pipe or
gan.
Among the early church pastors
were Rev. Mr.. Ellerson, Livingston.
Bennett, Parker, Woodward and
Senser. Other pastors remembered
by this generation include Rev. Mr..
Smith, Garrison and Johnston. Rev.
A. l.. Iszard, the present pastor. came
to the church over thirteen years
ago and is now serving his four
teenth year. So beloved is Rev. Is
I'D to his congregation that he has
len invited to return each year.
ST. Johns Society was formed in
1874 by log members many being
from Calvary M. E. church, the first
Sunday school and preaching SER
vices being held in the hurch in
1879 although a pastor was APP
pointed in 1874.
A roll call was held in the Old
Bethany Sunday school in 1928 and
many well known names were on
thai roll including G. w. Wallirg,
later superintendent of the New
w. l. Brown. Others also well re-
membered by family connections
were Rev. James o. Rodgers Peter
Stout. Timothy Murphy and Fuse
bus Walling.
A roll call will take place on We'd
nesday, November 1, when the SER
vice will be in charge of the Rev.
Clarence Johnston a former pastor.
The program of the week of spa
cial services to mark the centennial
and semi-centennial follows:
Oct. 20. Sunday. 1O:3O a. M,
Rev. Samuel Sargent. preacher.
Oct. 20, 1880 p. m. Rev. fIrs. Ira
Shute Pimm. preacher.
Oct. 80, Monday, 1880 o. m, Rev
C. Rollin Smith. preacher.
Oct. 81. Tuesday, 1880 q. IT,, Rev.
William Burley, preacher.
Nov. 1 Wednesday, 1880 p. M
Rev. Clarence M. Johnston. Preach
er. -,
Nov. 2, a service will also lie held
at 2:30 D. M, and the roll call Will
be held at both the afternoon and
evening services. Aunt" Natliua
Voorhees, now in her loOtn year,
who recently sang a solo on ga
Folks Day, will attend if possible
and render another solo. She is
6\lso expected to sing on Oct. ~.
The speaker in the evening Will
Be the Rev. Wilbert Westcott. OF
Perth Amboy. DIR. Westcott has
been heard here before with great
pleasure and it is expected that a
large congregation will be present
to greet him. In the afternoon the
pastors of the neighboring Cnurches
will have charge of the services n
at the close Of the afternoon ser.
vice a supper will be served TO al
present and a free will oifering
taken. 7,
On Friday. Nov. 8. Calvary M. IL.
church will have charge Of the ser
vices. being the mother churcn oi
St. Johns M. e.
ON Sunday, Nov. s. at 1880 a,
m. the Lords Supper Will he admin
istered and an experience meeting
will be held, while in the evening
at 1880 p. M, Rev. Joseph Garrison
q former pastor, will preach.
The committee includes 9enJam,h
b. Lufburrow and Roelif RI. Leroy
The pastor and congregation OF
St. Johns M. E. church are lookins
forward to a great week and all a"e
most cordially invited to attend any
~ oil of these services.
Announce Engagement .
81 an, M and