The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-09-28
St. Peters Church,
Freehold and It's Rect0rs
By MAxcY APPLEeATE. SR.
REV. GEORGE KEITH, FOUNDER OF
FREEHOLD.
BY MAxcY APPLReArE. sR.

On October 1st they reached AM
boy and Mr.. Keith found himself
among his old friends.
On Sunday, Oct. Sd, Mr.. Keith held
service in an old ruinous house
which had been patched up" to
make a church of it. There was a
small congregation, but included
such men of influence in the commune
ty and province as John Barclay and
Miles Foster, formerly Quakers, but
now earnest churchmen.
Throughout New Jersey the mis-
sionaries travelled day and night,
cheering the hearts Of the scattered
churchnen and carefully considering
what towns would be most convenient
centres for the establishment Of mis-
sions
They found at Shrewsbury in East
Jersey, and at Burlington, the capital
-of West Jersey. many ready to re-
ceive gladly the ministrations Of the
church Salem, Hopewell and Mid
dletown were also frequently visited
They were not mere enthusiasts de-
ceived by the show of interest, but
used every available source of informa-
tion as to the probable permanence
and increase OF the towns where they
encouraged the building OF churches
and the appointment OF missionaries.
Thus they went toward Philadelphia,
then the most important town IN
America. Here they met the sincere
and hearty greeting Of the Rev, Evan
Evans. of Christ church, and his assis-
Il ~ I'll. md ho
large body Of church people his ener-
gy had gathered into parish
Mr.. Keith attracted many of bis
old friends to public arguments in
which lie contended against the
Quakers in their stronghold. In the
villages around Philadelphia Mr..
Keith preached and held meetings.
gave encouragement to the feeble
congregations and formed new ones.
John Talbot went with him every
where. He was, as George Keith writes
in letter to DR.. Bray. Mighty SER
viceable and comfortable to me as a
son TO his father and is well beloved
by all where we Travelled who where
well affected to the Church.
In November 1902 Mr.. K cit b and
| Mr.. Talbot attended the Uony ocatfon
of the seven clergymen of the middle
colonies which met in the city OF New
] York ssat the instance and charge Of
I His Excellency, Col Nicholson, Gov
ernor of Virginia. This was an i'm
portant step toward the future
organization of the American church.
A full and valuable account of its pro
ceedings was sent by Mr.. Talbot to the
| Venerable Society. In the name OF the
convention he specially urged the
need of Bishop for the Colonies,
gave an exact account of the con
dition of each Northern Colony as
regards the Church and the disposition
of the people toward the building and
supporting parish churches, and pro-
posed a scheme by which they could
receive support and missionaries from
the Mother Church.
The Travelling Missionaries
had in the early Spring Of 1908. made
a second circuit of the middle Colonies.
The corner stone of st. Mary's church.
Burlington, New Jersey. was laid
upon Annunciation Day. 1908.
Gov Morris. at his own expense
built Christ Church, Shrewsbury and
partially endowed it. They saw prog
ress in New York and Pennsylvania
and could with clear consciences seek
|repose among the planters Of Vir-
ginia.
Taking passage in sloop from New
G astle, Del, to York River, Va, they
reached williamsburg on Tuesday,
A pril Goth, 1903 There was the home
of Col Nicholson, Governor of
Virginia, who very kindly received and
welcomed the missionaries. 1t was in
this pleasant town that DR.. James
Blair, man of tact and sound learn
ing, had succeeded in establishing, in
1898, the Royal college of William and
Mary, the second institution for higher
education in the Colonies. He be-
came it's first President, secured from
Sir Christopher Wren, a plan for
building of noble proportions and at
tracted to the College the best young
men of Virginia. For many years Pres
ident Blair was a power for good both
in Church and State. 1t is gratifying
to know that this ancient seat Of relig-
ion and learning has now. in it's third
century, renewed it's youth, and is
educating descendants of it's distin-
guished Alumni of it's early days.
Our travellers were warmly welcom-
ed to the house of DIR. Blair, where
they met old friends and made new
OArcs hG oAi1 W LII III tScttlJ VI VAtV 1y1oAt-
op Of London, the President had sum
nioned a eonvocation Of the Virginia
clergy, to meet on April 21st, At his
request Mr.. Keith had the honor Of
preaching the Convocation sermon,
from John. /, 2. The Rectors Of the
Virginia parishes at that time were
men who showed activity and earnest
ness; who faithfully and consistently
led their hocks in the ways Of peace and
righteousness without any adornments
or embellishments to the sacred old
Book of-Common Prayer. 1t was a
pleasure for the missionaries to be
cheered by their interest and sympathy.
While they would gladly have remain
ed longer with their friends in the Old
Dominion, the spiritual destitution OF
the adjoining Colony Of North Carolina
caused them to resume their journey
on May 10th.
1t will be remembered that Sir Wal
g \ .IL ~