Cumberland County NJ Archives News..... Seventy-Five Years of Church Life, February 7, 1903 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Virginia Boone silver_lining77@ymail.com July 28, 2013, 8:07 pm Dollar Weekly News February 7, 1903 Seventy-Five Years of Church Life The Special Services Began Last Evening at First Baptist Church Interesting Reminiscences of the Past Given in Annual Roll Call - Social Hour Followed From Saturday's Evening News The special exercises commemorative of the 75th Anniversary of the First Baptist Church began last evening. The annual roll call, followed by a social hour, occupied the evening. 'Recollections of the Past' was the theme and as each member responded to his or her name on the call of the roll, they contributed some bit of history of the past. During the evening the pastor, Rev. Clark T. Brownell, presided, and it is worthy to note that in such an old church he is one of its youngest pastors. Rev. E. B. Tilton, of the Cohanney Baptist Church, Roadstown, made a very pleasant address, filled with bits of history. The Cohanney Church is the mother church of the First Church and the line of descension has been followed out, for the Cedarville Baptist Church is regarded as the daughter of the First Church. Rev. Dr. Sembower, of the Cedarville church, contributed to the recollections of the evening. A very large congregation was present and as the names were called they responded. Robert H. Dare was the first name on the roll. He has been a member for 61 years, having been baptized the second Sunday in May, 1842. He told of how the church used to look, who come of the members were at that time, and gave the names of the fourteen different pastors during the past seventy-five years, in the line of succession. Of these fourteen pastors five are now living. James E. Elwell, a member of the 56 years' standing, gave a historical talk describing the old Pearl Street Church. Dr. H. K. Trask gave an interesting talk on the church history during the past 35 years, during which time he has been a member. Jonathan D. Ayres was baptized by Rev. Mr. Wilson the second Sunday is April, 1847. As the names were called on down the roll, they responded either with history or the newer members gave Bible quotations. After an address by the pastor the congregation enjoyed a social hour, light refreshments being served. Many were present to whom it was a special effort to be there, on account of living at a distance, and the social brought the members much closer together. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/njfiles/ File size: 2.9 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/cumberland/newspapers/roadstownbap75yrs.txt