Union County NJ Archives Church Records.....Fulton Street Methodist Episcopal Church 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robin Mason rlcww@comcast.net November 16, 2008, 5:40 pm

Articles on the Fulton Street Methodist Episcopal Church of Elizabethport, NJ, 
Seceding from the Newark Conference and the Aftermath

NEW JERSEY
New York Times, Mar 28, 1882; pg. 8

The Fulton Street Methodist Church of Elizabeth wiped out its debt of $1,500 
by subscriptions amounting to $1,652 on Sunday. Most of the debt was incurred 
in the construction of a new chapel. The Rev. Bishop Hurst presided at the 
services at which the amount of the debt was subscribed and Dr. Moore assisted 
in the debt-raising. After the amount needed had been subscribed, the chapel 
was dedicated.

OBJECT TO THEIR PASTOR.
A Methodist Church in Revolt Against the Conference.
New York Times, Apr 20, 1891; pg. 3

Elizabeth, NJ, April 19---The congregation of the Fulton Street Methodist 
Episcopal Church here has rebelled against the action of the Newark Conference 
in sending them the Rev. J.H. Johnson of Stapleton, S.I., in place of the Rev. 
William E. Simpson of the Columbia Conference, Oregon, who was chosen to fill 
the unexpired term of the Rev. Dr. Lewis R. Dunn, who resigned to accept the 
secretaryship of the American Sabbath Union.

The Rev. Mr. Johnson came today to officiate, but no sexton appeared to ring 
the bell, and there was neither organist nor choir in attendance. The trustees 
of the church and most of the members have revolted, and instead of several 
hundred persons being in attendance at the services, less than forty were 
present. Three young persons volunteered to act as a choir, and an old member 
of the church did duty as sexton. The congregation claim that they petitioned 
the Bishop and the Rev. Dr. Brice, Presiding Elder, to have Mr. Simpson 
appointed pastor, but their request was refused by the Bishop on the ground 
that it was not wise to take Mr. Simpson from the Columbia Conference. This 
has angered the congregation, who, while they have nothing against the new 
pastor, take this method of showing their displeasure with the action of the 
Bishop and Presiding Elder.

The Rev. Mr. Johnson hopes by patience to smooth over the trouble. He did not 
want to come to Elizabeth, he says, but had to obey the orders of the 
Conference. The Fulton Street church has the largest Methodist congregation of 
any in the city. It was founded in 1858, and is situated in Elizabethport.

CHURCH SECEDERS IN ELIZABETH.
New York Times, Jun 3, 1891; pg. 9

Elizabeth, June 2---The seceders from the Fulton Street Methodist Episcopal 
Church, Elizabethport, have determined to cut loose altogether from the Newark 
Conference, and will organize an independent church, to be known as the 
Protestant Methodist. This step was taken at a prayer meeting held on Sunday 
night to protest against the action of the Newark Conference in supplanting 
Pastor W.G. Simpson by Pastor Johnson of Stapleton, S.I. Seventy-five persons 
attended the meeting, and the question, “Shall we form a Protestant Methodist 
church?” was submitted to a ballot. Every person present but one voted “Yes.”

The bolters claim that they represent 250 former members of the Fulton Street 
Church, and say that they have plenty of money to build at once a chapel and 
that an eligible site has been offered them for the new edifice.

CALLED TO ELIZABETHPORT.
New York Times, Jul 12, 1891; pg. 17

Elizabeth, NJ, July 11---The Rev. F.T. Benson of Baltimore has accepted a call 
to become pastor of the new Protestant Methodist Church at Elizabethport. He 
is the present Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Conference, and will assume 
his new charge Aug. 1. The Elizabethport church is composed of twenty-five 
seceders from the Fulton Street Methodist Episcopal Church who were displeased 
with the action of the Newark Conference in removing the Rev. Robert Simpson 
from the pastorate of the Fulton Street Church.

AN UNUSUAL CEREMONY.
New York Times, Aug 30, 1891; pg. 1

Elizabeth, NJ, Aug. 29---The unusual ceremony of breaking ground at dusk for a 
church was witnessed tonight at Elizabethport by several hundred people. The 
seceders from the Fulton Street Methodist Episcopal Church gathered in force 
to see the starting of a Protestant Methodist house of worship at the corner 
of Fourth and Franklyn Streets.

The Rev. Mr. Benson, the pastor, dug the first spadeful of earth, and he was 
followed by the church trustees and the Superintendent of the Sunday school. 
The new church will be of Queen Ann style and will cost $7,000. It is to be 
completed in three months.

DIVIDED ELIZABETHPORT CHURCH.
New York Times, Sep 28, 1891; pg. 3

Elizabeth, NJ, Sept. 27---The Protestant Methodists of Elizabethport, as the 
seceders from the Fulton Street Methodist Episcopal Church call themselves, 
laid the cornerstone Saturday evening of their new church and tonight held 
commemorative exercises at the German Presbyterian Church. About four hundred 
persons attended.

Addresses were delivered by the Rev. R. Murray of Washington, DC, and the Rev. 
T.T. Benson, pastor of the new church. The building will be finished before 
Christmas.

A CHURCH TO BE DEDICATED.
New York Times, Feb 7, 1892; pg. 1

Elizabeth, Feb. 6---The First Methodist Protestant Church of this city, 
founded by seceders from the Fulton Street Methodist Episcopal Church who 
revolted against the action of the Newark Conference in removing a pastor who 
was dearly beloved by his flock, will be dedicated tomorrow. The Rev. L. R. 
Dyott will conduct the exercises, which will begin at 9 a.m. with a love 
feast. The dedication sermon will be preached at 10:30 by the Rev. J.J. 
Murray, D.D., of Maryland.

There will be a platform service at 3 p.m., with addresses by the Rev. L.R. 
Dyott, W.H. Shermer of the First Baptist Church, this city; T.B. Appleget of 
the First New Jersey Conference Methodist Protestant Church, R.W. Woodruff, 
and the Rev. Mr. Nicolai of the German Presbyterian Church.

The regular dedicatory service will begin at 7:30, and the sermon will be 
preached by the Rev. W.R. Graham of Washington, DC.





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