June 5, 1877.
Dedication of Macedonia Church.
The Rev. A. H. Newton was ably assisted in the service of dedicating
the beautiful new Macedonia Church in Camden, N. J., last Sunday. The
dedicatory service was conducted and sermon preached by Bishop A. W.
Wayman, D.D., at 11 A. M. In the afternoon the editor of the Christian
Recorder and at night Macedonia’s ex-pastor, Rev. W. H. Yocum, B.D.,
preached. There were present the Rev. G. A. Mills, Rev. J. W. Cooper,
T. N. Allen, S. B. Williams, G. S. Smith, T. Gould, L. J. Coppin, B.
T. Tanner, D.D., J. H. Bean, J. W. Becket, D.D., W. Rice and G. M.
Witten, of our church, and S. P. Smith, of the Congregational Church of
Knoxville, Tenn. There may have been other ministers present. In the
afternoon the audience of the main audience room overflowed, filling
the basement, where they were addressed in a good sermon delivered by
Rev. G. M. Witten. The collection of the day amounted to over $900.
Macedonia has been partly described while in course of erection. It
is of brick, the windows are of beautiful stained glass, the floor
is entirely carpeted, the pulpit is furnished, the gas jets, the
excellent finish of the entire building within and without command our
congratulation to our Brother Newton and constituents, who with him,
as well as with his predecessor, Elder Yocum, under whose pastorate the
building was started, erected and enclosed, have been faithful.
October 24, 1886.
Another Account of the Dedication of the Macedonia Church.
For the Christian Recorder.
Mr. Editor: In the midst of the ranges of thought and sentiment, and
while the busy world was moving on in the grand march of improvement,
the Church of the Living God is unfolding and developing everywhere.
The Kingdom of Christ is gaining territory in the marts of men.
Sunday, October 24th, the Macedonia A. M. E. Church of Camden, N. J.,
was dedicated with imposing services. Indeed, I venture the assertion
that it was the grandest occasion in the history of the congregation.
More than forty years ago a few fathers and mothers, African
Methodists, concluded to build the house to God in that city, all of
whom have finished their well-begun work, and have fallen asleep;
but Brother Wilson, Father Sample, Mother Quinn and Sister Hill. The
younger men and women, inspired by the fathers, took hold where they
left off and have carried forward the work until the third building is
successfully reared on the same lot; but the glory of the latter house
is greater than the former. The members and congregation needed this
new church seventeen years before it was built. They were losing their
congregation of young people, their societies were taking their start
from Old Macedonia until eight other churches were built in Camden.
With the exception of one or two, Macedonia was the poorest. Standing
two and one-half feet below the grade of the street might be seen a
small flat-roof house covered with felt, pitch and gravel; this was the
A. M. E. church with a gallery all around it, yet some of our ablest
ministers had pastored there.
After I had labored three years in the city of Providence, R. I., in
August, Bishop John M. Brown said to me, “Brother Yeocum, we have
needed a new church in Camden for years, can you not go there and
build that church. You will find a good lot of people. We must have a
church there that will compare with the churches in Philadelphia or we
shall lose all that we have.” On the 22nd of August I found myself in
Camden, N. J., and it was not long before we commenced talking about
the new church. About the last of October our first grand rally netted
us $575.00; at the last service in the old building we raised about
$300.00 and soon $1,000.00 were in hand. The old church was taken down
and many were fearful that the church would never go up again. We took
the congregation some distance from its stamping ground to what is
known as “Kaighnsville” and worshipped in our mission school-house just
in the rear of the A. M. E. Z. Church. Here we remained eighteen months
while the carpenters and masons were working on the present noble
structure. There were many discouragements and trying circumstances
confronting us, but we toiled on trusting in the Lord whose work it
was. The tribes led on by the presidents, Mrs. Anna White, the late
Lyda McCoy and Mrs. Maggie J. Moseley and Mrs. Lizzie Green, collected
money perhaps as they never expected. It was simply marvelous. The
former, if my memory is correct, raised over $500.00 during my three
years pastorate while the building was being erected.
On the first Sunday in December, 1885, we went into the basement of the
new church complete. That was an occasion of surprise as well as of
joy to the members of the congregation. For many a Job’s comforter had
prophesied that it would not go up again, while others laughed saying,
“Aha! Aha!” “Where is their church now?” Perhaps some said, “What
they do build, if a fox go up thereon, it will break down.” In April,
1885, I was succeeded by the Rev. A. H. Newton, who is a successful,
energetic pastor, who does not sit down or stand still waiting for
something to turn up in his favor, like some pastors. But he goes to
work with such vim and is here and there so much among his members
that one following him learns that Rev. Newton has been there. With
this spirit he carried to completion this fine and beautiful church.
He and his members deserve much credit. The church has all the modern
improvements and many say that it is the finest A. M. E. church in New
Jersey. I do not remember the dimensions but it is a large two-story
brick building with a cellar below where all the heating is done. On
entering the front door there is a stair-way leading to the audience
room on the right and on the left. Before entering the lecture room
there is a fine study and lecture and class room with frosted windows.
The ceiling of the basement is high, it is easily ventilated, the
windows of the best enameled glass. There is no paint on the wood
work, simply finished in oil, thus retaining the natural color of the
yellow pine. The audience room is large with three isles, one in the
center and one on each side, with a door at each isle, making the
exit very easy. There is a large gallery across the front, making the
seating capacity about 550. The windows are the best variegated stained
glass. In each there is a memorial to Bishop R. H. Cain, the Rev. A.
H. Newton, W. H. Yeocum and Mr. Perry Wilson, the oldest member. The
ceiling is very high, carved and angled, with two large reflectors
which give a mellow, beautiful light. Unlike many of our churches all
the floor is carpeted and the fine furniture on the pulpit, together
with the splendid pipe organ, make an elegant finish.
At 10:30 a. m., after the usual form, Bishop A. W. Wayman, D.D.,
preached one of his noted sermons which was well received by the
people, the text being, “Who is she that looketh fair as the morning?”
And Rev. B. F. Lee, D.D., preached a most elegant, instructive, sermon
at 3 p. m. The congregation was so large that the Rev. G. M. Witten
preached to a crowded basement also at the same hour. At 7 p. m. your
humble servant tried to preach from Rev. 1:11, “I am Alpha and Omega,”
the theme being, “Christ, the First and the Last.” The collection was
$900.00, which was very good considering the circumstances of our
people. The visiting members present were Dr. B. T. Tanner, Rev. J. W.
Cooper, Rev. G. A. Mills, Rev. S. B. Williams, Rev. W. A. Rice, Rev. J.
H. Bean, Rev. J. H. Morgan and Rev. L. J. Coppin.
Rev. William H. Yeocum, B.D.
Trenton, New Jersey.
Resolutions, Etc.
Little Rock, Ark.
Whereas, The Rev. A. H. Newton, since his advent in our midst as pastor
of Bethel A. M. E. Church and subsequently, became superintendent of
our Sabbath School, demonstrating a great love for the Sabbath School
and zealously desirous of promoting its complete success as a place
of reform and education for the young, has ardently labored to extend
its usefulness and sound religious and moral teachings in the minds
of our youthful members, has striven to lead the young to religious
devotion, has spared no pains to cause the officers and teachers to
imbibe the same zeal, and, being a devotee to music, has caused its
uplifting influence to flow among us, leading our voices to leap forth
in joyous strains in adoration to our King of kings, and to promote
a higher intellectual and spiritual standard among officers, members
and scholars, and has sown the seed that will bring forth an abundant
harvest when his hoary head is laid to rest in its last resting place;
therefore be it
Resolved, 1. That the officers and teachers of the Bethel A. M. E. S.
S. give to Rev. A. H. Newton a vote of thanks for the expending of his
time and labors in promoting our welfare.
2. That we commend him to his many Christian friends for his many deeds
of kindness and labors of love, for both our temporal and spiritual
good.
3. That the above preamble and resolutions be recorded by our
secretary, and a copy be given to him.
H. J. BROWN,
W. H. SMITH,
G. W. OLIVER,
Committee.
November 19, 1876.
Respecting Rev. A. H. Newton.
At a meeting of the officers and members of the Bethel A. M. E. Church,
held in this city in 1876, the following preamble and resolutions were
adopted:
Whereas, He has served us faithfully for one year as pastor of Bethel
Station, in this city, and labored faithfully and honestly to build up
our Sabbath School and other organizations placed under his charge by
the General Conference; and
Whereas, He has taken special pains to instill into the minds of the
young of the church the grand and beneficent principles of temperance
and morality; and
Whereas, His Christian conduct, scholarly attainments and liberal views
have endeared him unto us; therefore be it
Resolved, That we, officers and members of the Bethel Church, do hereby
tender to him our heartfelt thanks for the noble work he has done among
us, and we will ever pray that the blessings of Almighty God may rest
upon him and his family, and aid him in his new work to accomplish good
work for the cause of Christ.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to Brother
Newton, and that they be published in the Little Rock daily papers.
G. W. OLIVER, Secretary.
November 18, 1876.
Macedonia Church Endeavors to Retain Their Pastor.
Camden, N. J.
To the Presiding Elder and Members of the
Quarterly Conference of Macedonia A. M.
E. Church:
Whereas, The New Jersey Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Church will
hold its annual session at Trenton April 20; and
Whereas, Another year’s faithful service of our pastor, Rev. A. H.
Newton, will expire; and
Whereas, His Christian deportment and liberal views, his gentlemanly
and agreeable qualities have endeared him to us; therefore be it
Resolved, That we, the members of the Macedonia Quarterly Conference,
do, for his two years of earnest labor in the upbuilding and finishing
of our church and increasing our membership, tender him our heartiest
thanks; and
Resolved, That in this he has our heartiest regard and the good wishes
of the members of the Quarterly Conference, and we sincerely hope that
his future may be as bright and prosperous as he may hope or desire,
and we also pray that the Bishop may return him to us for another year.
Resolved, That a copy of these minutes be presented to Rev. A. H.
Newton and be printed in the Sentinel and the Tribune.
Signed in behalf of the Quarterly Conference of the Macedonia A. M. E.
Church.
WILLIAM STEVENSON,
JAMES HURT,
CHARLES COX,
EZEKIEL WALLACE,
GEORGE ROBERTS,
JAMES BRISCOE.
March 24, 1887.
Notice.
Rev. A. H. Newton, pastor of the Bethel A. M. E. Church, has been
transferred to the Louisiana Conference. We regret to lose Mr. Newton
from this city, as gentlemen of his attainments are none too plenty
in the ranks of the A. M. E. ministry. Aside from being liberally
educated, he has shown a practical Christian spirit and work since his
residence in this city. He is to be succeeded by the Rev. J. R. Jenifer.
East Camden, N. J.
At the last Quarterly Conference of the Hosanna A. M. E. Church the
following resolutions were offered by the Rev. W. W. Chase:
Whereas, The church has prospered under the presiding eldership of Rev.
A. H. Newton for the past four years; and