Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-23
STONE
WILL De LAID
First Baptist Church to Have
Appropriate Services at
New Building Tomorrow
SAME WILL COST $4,000
At Corner of Market and High
StreetS-Mayor Wilson to
Make Address
SAME WILL COST $500

The cornerstone for the new First
Baptist church building will be laid
at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon
with appropriate services at the site
of the new edifice on the southwest
corner of Market and High streets
in City Hall Park.
The new church will cost $4,000
and when completed will be struc-
ture of which the city can be proud.
As the church building committee,
of which Joseph F. Walker is chair
man, succeeded in getting one of the
most desirable sites in the city when
it acquired the property in City Hall
Park, the decision was reached to
build an edifice which would attract
the eye of the stranger and prove an
asset to the city, being another one
of the imposing structures which
Perth Amboy can boast of.
The program, commencing at
O'Clock, will open with a cornet solo
by Whitney Frazee, of Plainfield,
who will also lead the singing with
|, his cornet. Following the singing of
America" the Scripture will be read
by Rev. Carl j. Conrad, pastor of the
Danish NJ E. church. Rev. Wilbert
Westcott, pastor of the Simpson M.
E. church, will deliver a prayer after
which Mayor William G. Wilson Will
make a short address.
The singing of 1.-The Church's One
Foundation" will follow the may
or's address. The offering will be
taken after which Rev. Joseph q.
Hazen, pastor of the North Baptist
church, of Orange, will deliver an
address. Rev. DR.. Hazen is one OF
the most accomplished and able
speakers in the baptist demonina-
ton. -,
The cornerstone ceremonies will
follow Rev. DIR. Hazen's talk. The
box to be placed in the cornerstone
will contain the following articles:
List of the church's membership;
list of officers, trustees, deacons ana
members of the Official board; list
of the names of the various organl-
cations in the church and theis
heads; list of the names of the build
ing committee; copy of the Ne"
Testament; copy of Perth Ampur
Evening News; picture of the break
ing of ground for the new church'
coins.
CLAYTON w. Sheath, one of the
Oldest members of the congregation
will have the honor of laying tne
cornerstone which will then De
trued, levelled and squared by John
N. Wester, the general contractor IN
charge of the construction work. me
dedication prayer by Rev. Desmonu
Heyliger, pastor of the churcn, WI,
follow. Onward Christian Sololers
will be sung after which the beneolc-
ton will be pronounced anu the cei
emonies closed.
THE First Baptist church of Perth
Amboy was organized on august 20
1918. fifteen members completing
the organization at that tlme' tne
nonulation of Perth Amboy then be-
ing 500. OF the total population,
however, theSe were comparatively
few Baptists but these decided to
worship together and permission was
obtained to use the old Courthouse
occupying the site on which the city
hall now stands, for the holding OF
meetings. Rev. 7. Winter was the
first pastor and for six years the
congregation struggled along with no
meeting place other than the room
in the courthouse.
In 1924 it was decided to erect
church and a site at the corner
of Fayette and High streets was pro-
cured. The following year the church
was completed, there being at that
time SO members in the congrega-
ton. Among the members at that
time were John and William Hart,
descendants of whom are still mem
bers of the church, George and
James Compton and John p. Wog-
| lom.
Years later the church was moved
up Fayette street to about the middle
of the block between High and
Mechanic streets. The building was
enlarged and used until 1913 when
| it was sold, property then being
| bought at the southeast corner of
Market street and Madison avenue.
1t was the intention of the church
| to build at once but owing to the
| high prices prevailing, construction
work was postponed. The war re-
| suited in prices remaining at the
peak and for two years the congre-
cation met in the Y. NJ. c. A. 1t was
decided to build temporary place
I of worship in 1915 and a portable
war church" was erected at Madi-
son avenue and Market street. 1t
still is being used.
Because of the constant changes
in location and the inconvenience
connected with them, the church
IContinueo on page p