Page:History of West Hoboken NJ.djvu/103

 one in the village. Among these baptists was Mr. John Syms and Peter Bogart. One Sunday afternoon Mr. John Syms proposed to Mr. Peter Bogart that if he would canvas the hill and get the baptists together he would build a church or meeting house for them.

Mr Bogart, after canvassing the vicinity, found ten persons who were ready to help organize a baptist church.

The people, among whom were the following, besides the two first mentioned gentlemen, were: Mr. and Mrs. Van Arsdale, Mr. and Mrs. John Varrick, Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys and Mr. and Mrs. Smithson, met in the school house of Martin Ryerson, on Paterson and Clinton avenues, in the year 1854. and organized the present Baptist Church. A Sunday school was also organized, which, at first, consisted of six scholars, but which, in three years from the date of its organization, had grown to 150.

The congregation subsequently met in the same old silk factory on Hague street, in which the people of the Presbyterian and St. John's Churches had also met, and in the year 1855 Mr. John Syms erected a house of worship for them on Clinton avenue, corner Demott street. This old building was recently moved around on Clinton avenue and was until last year, used as a furniture store by Wm. Gulden.

The succession of the ministry of this church is as follows:—1st, Rev. C. A. Buckbee; 2nd, Rev. M. James; 3rd. Rev. Mr. Leghorn; 4th, Rev. Mr. McGonegal; 5th, Rev. Mr. Gilts: 6th, Rev. Mr. Frank Osborn; 7th, Rev. Mr. Nelson; 8th. Rev. Frank Fletcher; 9th, Rev. R. Rollins.

Previous to the installation of the first regular pastor the church had ministers from the Bible Society, Nassau street, New York, at 5 o'clock p. m. every Sunday.

The organization of the church took place through the kindness of the Presbyterians, in the basement of their church. Rev. Isaac Wescott, of New York, preached the sermon and Rev. Mr. Patton, of Hoboken, gave the charge. Mr. John Syms and wife, the organizers, were the first received in the church by baptism. A large stage was hired from the stage line and was packed full, inside and out, and journeyed down to the house of Mr. Sym's daughter, in Bayonne, New Jersey, and there they were baptised in the waters of Newark Bay.

In the early history of this church Mr. Thos. Keynton played the melodian, and Mr. and Mrs. John Syms led the choir.

The present stone church was erected in 1868, and was built from contributions, among the largest of whom was the Syms family. The chapel adjoining was built and donated also by Mr. Syms at a cost of nearly $20,000.