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PASTOR'S CORNER

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELMER UMC!

     The Pittstown Methodist Episcopal Church, now Elmer UMC, was formally organized on July 15, 1868.  This month marks our 150th anniversary as a congregation, and of our original building – now our Fellowship Hall and Chapel.  (The picture at left is how our church looked in 1868.  Our current sanctuary was dedicated July 11, 1897 – 121 years ago).  To celebrate this important milestone in our congregational life, we will be holding a 10-day Revival later this Fall.  We hope to honor the past by renewing our vitality in the present, and building up our church for the future.  You’ll be hearing much more about that from me over the summer months and into the Fall.

     The beginnings of Methodism in this area go back much further than 1868, however.  Today, I would like us to reflect on that earlier history, and the beginnings of Methodism in Salem County.

     In the 1770’s, the area we now call Elmer, Pittsgrove, and Upper Pittsgrove was all simply “Pittsgrove.”  Pittsgrove Township was created by Royal Charter in 1769.  (The townships were later separated in 1846, and the Borough of Elmer, formerly “Pittstown”, was set off 125 years ago in 1893).   During the American War for Independence, feelings ran high on both sides, “Loyalists” and “Patriots” alike, and there were those who simply refused to take a side, most commonly Quakers.  To a degree we often fail to fully appreciate today, it really was a civil war, dividing families, communities and churches.

     In Pittsgrove, the dominant religious influence were the Presbyterian (1741; pictured building 1767), and Baptist (1771) churches at Daretown.  Both of these congregations were at the time strongly Calvinist in their orientation, and, by and large, committed to the Patriot cause.  Methodists were few and far between.  We were still a religious “Society”, not a church, and were officially members of the Church of England, a fact which put Methodists in an awkward position.  All of the “official” Methodist missionaries in America, with the exception of Francis Asbury, returned to England at the start of the War.  The Methodist lay preachers and people who remained were subject to suspicion, and outright persecution (think tar & feathers), for being Loyalists.  Asbury had to hide out in the swamps of lower Delaware for several months, because the revolutionary government of Maryland put a price on his head!

     Additionally, the Calvinistic churches regarded Methodists as heretics for denying their understanding of predestination, and far-out fanatics (“enthusiasts” was the 18th century word), because of their dramatic preaching, singing, and emotional responsiveness.

     Things were difficult for Methodists, but you can’t keep a movement of God down!

     Methodist meetings would be held in people’s homes, and lay evangelists would travel around, sharing the Good News with people on the way.  In Pittsgrove, such house meetings began at Olivet (Broad Neck) and at John Murphy’s house (Friendship) as early as 1773.

     The Revolution was not good for the cause of religion generally.  There was a great deal of godlessness and religious apathy among the people.  Even before the War, one of Pittsgrove’s most notorious sinners was Benjamin Abbott.  In his own words, “I lived in sin and open rebellion against God…”.  Abbott lived on a rented farm near Daretown.  He had a well-deserved reputation for drinking, gambling – especially cockfighting, swearing, and beating up those who crossed him.  He would go looking for fights at the county fair, and other public gatherings.  He was quite a rough character.

     Some troubling dreams led him to become concerned about his soul.  He was convinced he was going to hell, not without reason.  He wrestled spiritually for quite some time.  He sought guidance from his wife because he knew she prayed. But she, at the time, was a pretty nominal Presbyterian and not able to help him through it.  One day, he heard there was going to be a preacher at John Murphy’s house, near Friendship.  He resolved to go and hear what he had to say.  As Abraham Whitworth preached the Word at that meeting, the Lord met Benjamin Abbott “in the power and energy of His Spirit, and convinced him of his undone and fallen state.”  He sought God, and found peace and pardon on October 12, 1772.  He was 40 years old.

     Like the conversion of St. Paul, the change in his life was astonishingly complete.  He became a zealous advocate for being justified by faith (born again), and fully and forcefully proclaimed the Methodist doctrine of holiness of heart and life (sanctification).  His biographer records, “[He] immediately preached Christ and him crucified; showing that the grace of God abounded to the chief of sinners:  in delivering the truths of the Gospel, he was above the fear of men or devils.  He was neither elevated by applause, nor yet dejected by persecution: and whether he was called a good man or a devil, it was of least importance to him.  His chief concern appeared to be the knowledge of his duty to God, and the faithful discharge of the same, independently of what men might think or say.”

     He was appointed the class leader at Murphy’s house church (Friendship) in February, 1773 – five months after his conversion.  Soon, people were coming by the hundreds to hear him preach.  Abbott’s preaching had a powerful effect on his hearers.  It was not uncommon for people to shout, jump, cry, spontaneously burst into song, as he declared the terrors of sin and the goodness of God.  Dozens of people would “fall out” – slain in the spirit under conviction for their sins.  His meetings would start at 11 am, and the presence of God so close that they would sometimes not conclude until midnight.

     From his base in Friendship, he would visit other places as a lay evangelist.  The same responses happened everywhere he preached.  Methodism throughout our area boomed under his influence.  For 16 years, he continued as farmer by day, class leader at night, and lay evangelist whenever the opportunity presented itself.  In this capacity, he visited churches throughout New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.  In 1789, at the age of 57, he became an “official” itinerant preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  He was appointed to circuits in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

     In 1792, he was appointed “home” – to the Salem Circuit, which then included all the Methodist preaching places in Salem, Cumberland, and Gloucester (including what is today Atlantic) counties.

     He made his rounds faithfully, including the Pittsgrove churches: “On Sunday, I preached with freedom, in Broad-neck meeting house (Olivet); some wept.  In the afternoon I went to Murphey’s church (Friendship) in Pitts-grove, where I met a large congregation.  God attended the word with power, and we had a precious time in class.”

     On another occasion, Abbott records a quarterly conference held at Friendship this way:  “We held quarterly meeting at Murphey’s church… On Saturday, brother Cann preached with life and power in the demonstration of the Spirit; brother M[errick] and myself gave exhortations; we had a profitable waiting on the Lord.  On Sunday morning brother M. opened the love feast: after handing out the bread and water, the people began to speak very feelingly, and the power of the Lord came down among them; many cried aloud for mercy, and some shouted for joy – joy indeed, to see sinners flocking home to God as doves to the window; others prayed aloud, so that we had the shout of a king in the camp, and the power of the Lord was present to heal those who were wounded by the Spirit of the eternal God: for the Lord killeth and maketh alive.  By this mighty power sinners were convinced of their undone state, without a Redeemer, and souls were converted, whereby they were enabled to shout redeeming love to God and to the Lamb: some professed sanctification.  Thus the work went on until time for public preaching. [Note:  Love Feasts were “closed” events.  Admission was by ticket and usually restricted to Society members only.  Occasionally guests were allowed.  The public worship service came later. SDE].  … At eleven o’clock it was judged best to open the doors; many people were without, waiting for admittance.  After a short interval, public worship began…divine power attended the word: several were reached to the heart, and one or two ungodly sinners were so powerfully struck that they were helped off by their ungodly associates, being so wrought on that they were unable to go themselves without their help; and many of the children of God were built up in their most holy faith, for which my soul adores the God and rock of our salvation.”

     His stay in his “home” circuit was brief.  In his own words, “I left the circuit after six months, having received 85 members into Society, and did see about 50 sanctified, by the mighty power and grace of God, and many others had been justified.  There was a great revival among the classes, may the Lord be mindful of them and preserve them in holy fear.”  Eighty-five people taken into membership, 50 sanctified, and many others born again – in six months work!  Wow!

     Benjamin Abbott continued to circuit ride until 1795, when his health just completely gave out.  He died, in Pittsgrove, on Sunday, August 14, 1796.  His last words were, “Glory to God!  I see heaven sweetly opened before me.”  Benjamin Abbott is buried in the cemetery next to the former First UMC in Salem city.

     Following a tremendous revival in 1842, the Methodist churches of Pittsgrove Township (Friendship and Olivet) were set off from the Salem Circuit, forming the Pittsgrove Charge.  In 1843, a parsonage was built at Pittstown (Elmer) to serve these two churches.  That parsonage is now home to the Elmer Methodist Thrift Shop and Peter’s Pantry.  As noted above, the Pittstown, now Elmer, congregation was formally organized in 1868.  The name changed from Pittstown to Elmer M.E. Church at some point in the 1870’s, when the village also changed its name.  The Pittsgrove Charge continued until 1889, when Elmer M.E. Church became large enough to be a “station church” unto itself.  By 1896, the Elmer congregation had outgrown its original building and our current sanctuary was constructed.  The 1868 building was turned and moved, and now serves as our Fellowship Hall and Chapel.

     Why have I shared all this history – especially since most of it involves a man who died long before Elmer UMC was formed?  Well, it is part of our heritage as the Methodists of this part of Salem County.  But, I think the best answer is found on our website’s church history page.  I don’t know who wrote it, but it rings true to me:  “The Elmer United Methodist Church is here today because our forefathers had a vision and because of the revival fires that burned in the yesterdays.  The church will only continue as it keeps that vision alive and as we allow the revival fires to be kindled today.”

 

 Steven D. Elliott, Pastor