Blogs Slowly Growing in Popularity in Presbyterian Church

While the General Assembly has long had its PCUSA website as a signpost on the web and the Presbyterian News Service to publish national and international news of interest to congregations, Web 2.0 is slowly beginning to make inroads in the provision of breaking news, information, and commentary at the local and regional levels. Websites are more rigid by nature and so have difficulty providing a steady stream of media content. Websites will continue to serve their purpose, but blogs are likely to play more of a role in active churches and presbyteries.

At the presbytery level, it is difficult to keep a website current. Monmouth Presbytery has a relatively moribund website these days, probably because there is no funding to staff people to keep up with all of the announcements and calendar items for a large presbytery, much less 50+ churches. It's certainly not a webmaster's job to add content. You'll notice that the presbytery is experimenting with a new Mission Cafe blog, which delivers some content but also calls for local churches to contribute mission news and commentary. For example, they are looking for mission stories from local congregations. See what Forked River, Jacksonville,  Lakewood - Hope, and Point Pleasant have shared to get ideas of what Matawan might contribute in the future.

The NJ Hunger Action and Advocacy ministry, which is sponsored by Monmouth Presbytery and New Brunswick Presbytery, has launched a new blog. The Monmouth Presbytery Hunger and Environment blog was a beginning, but a more regional blog seems to serve them better. If you're interested, ask Loril or a member of the Mission Commission how you can participate in presbytery level mission work like our Hunger and Environment Program.

The local churches have been slow to adapt blogs. Many don't even have a website yet. Our church has a website and is experimenting with this blog. Check with Evangelism Commission if you're interested in contributing content, either one time or on a regular basis. Content can be stories, travel logs, digital photographs, or interviews. Some folks don't like to write but are willing to be interviewed for a story, so if you know the story or can get the story, you can help with blogging.

Here's a short video to explain blogging to those who are unfamiliar.

Just a Little Help From My Friends

Looking for the chance to help a church neighbor in need? Some folks might be able to use a hand bagging leaves, getting their yards and homes ready for the upcoming cold weather or holiday season. Perhaps sweeping a garage, cleaning a gutter, or putting away the garden hoses and bringing in plants.

If you would like to put in a little time with others, or know of someone who could use a hand, please let us know. Send an email to Diana Noble, or contact me through the church office.

Info Updates as of November 14, 2009

Christmas Wreaths: Treat yourself to a beautiful holiday wreath while supporting mission. All monies will be sent to support the Mission at the Eastward (M.A.T.E.). Order and purchase details will be found in the November 15 church bulletin insert. (Courtesy of the Presbyterian Women)

It's not too late to help the Community Food Pantry fight hunger. In addition to year round collections the pantry is preparing for the annual distribution of the Thanksgiving Food Baskets, on November 21. We need the usual items: turkeys, mashed potatoes, stuffing, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, pie makings, etc. Items should be brought to church a few days ahead of time.

On a related note, next week, November 22, "Christ the King" Sunday, all members are invited to bring items of food up to the chancel during service to replenish the food stores in time for the Christmas Baskets distribution. Donations of the following items will be collected until December 18 (Friday): turkeys, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, vegetables, pancake mix and syrup, and cranberry sauce. Questions? Call Tammy at 732-290-7518.

The Monmouth County SPCA needs your help! The church office was contacted by them and informed that are more than 500 cats and kittens--including purebreds. Consider a thought to taking on a beautiful, loyal, loving companion for yourself or another pet that is alone all day. If you cannot adopt an animal, consider fostering or sponsoring one. For more information, visit the MCSPCA or call them at 732-542-0040 and speak with Ruth Schwarz.

Wheelers Proceed With Mission Despite Turmoil

In their 28 October letter, Presbyterian missionaries Tim and Gloria Wheeler explain the difficult political situation in which they find themselves in Honduras. But they quickly return to telling their story of Christian mission, in this case their effort to help teach villagers in Estanzuela to build stoves that use 70% less firewood. These eco-stoves not only save human labor and remove smoke from villagers' homes, they help reduce deforestation, a worldwide concern. The Wheelers also talk about the importance of soccer to national pride in Honduras. You'll want to read their letter and find out how well your mission dollars are being spent in a desperate place in a difficult time.

FPC History: Reverend John M Rogers (1850 - 1867)

John M Rogers was installed as pastor of FPC Matawan in February 1850. Reverend Rogers served our church for eighteen years, the longest pastorate at our church until Chester A Galloway, who served over twenty-three years (12 October 1949 to 31 August 1973). Besides FPC Matwan, he also served the Presbyterian Church at Woodbury in Woodbury, NJ, the Morrisville Presbyterian Church in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and was chaplain for what is now called the Office of Chaplaincy Services at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. A native of Westmoreland County, Virginia, he returned to his hometown after a full life in ministry and peacefully passed away.

The Presbyterian Ministerial Directory of 1898 showed John Murphy Rogers born 18 March 1818 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was ordained on 15 May 1844 in Machodoc, Virginia in Westmoreland County.

The General Catalogue of Princeton University (1746 - 1906) lists John Murphy Rogers as attending Princeton University from 1839 - 1942 and receiving his A.M. at Princeton in 1840. He served as Chaplain, New Jersey State Prison from 1878 - 1893. The Reverend died in 1899.

The necrology report in the Synod's 78th annual report published in 1900 contained this report on John Muphry Rogers:

JOHN MURPHY ROGERS was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, March 15th, 1818. His father, William L. Rogers, was an army officer in the war of 1812, and removed with his family to Princeton, N. J., some time prior to 1836. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1837. Afterwards he studied law, but finding himself called to the ministry, he abandoned his chosen profession, and entered the Princeton Seminary, and graduated in 1842. He was ordained by the Presbytery of West Jersey May 15th, 1844, and installed pastor at Woodbury, N. J., where he remained until 1847. In 1850 he became pastor at Middletown Point (now Matawan), which pastorate continued until 1867. He then removed to Princeton, where he remained for two years without a charge; but in 1873 he became pastor in Morrisville, Pa., which church he served until 1877, making his home meantime in Princeton. From 1878 to 1893 he served as Chaplain of the New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, N. J. fie then returned to his birthplace, Machodoc, Westmoreland County, Va., where he peacefully passed away November 19th, 1899, in the eighty-second year of his age.

John M Rogers was a 30 year old Virginia native, according to the 1850 Federal Census, which showed him as a Presbyterian clergyman living in Raritan Township, NJ with his wife Jane (24) and daughter Eliza (6). The wife was born in Virginia and daughter in New Jersey.

John M Rogers was a 42 year old Virginia native, according to the 1860 Federal Census, which showed him as an Old Side Presbyterian (OSP) clergyman living in Matawan with his wife Jane (36) and daughters Lizzie (15) and Anna (8). The wife was born in Virginia and the two children were born in New Jersey. He had $5,000 worth of property.

John M Rogers was a 52 year old Virginia native, according to the 1870 Federal Census, which showed him as a Minister living in Princeton, NJ with his wife Jane (45), daughter Anita (17) and son William (9), as well as his mother Jane (68). The wife and mother were born in Virginia and the two children in New Jersey. He had a total of $35,000 worth of property.

According to Presbyterians Pioneer at Matawan, pp. 35-36:

Soon after becoming its pastor, [Reverend Rogers] acquired a large dairy farm on New Brunswick Avenue, about one-thousand feet west of the old Mount Pleasant Church. The farm remained in his possession until three years after he left the Church. Today, Mr and Mrs Clarence G Linden, members of the congregation, live in a home converted from a former storage building on the farm. The original homestead burned.

Near the end of the Rev Mr Rogers' pastorate, in 1867, the Church was enlarged and improved at a cost of about four thousand dollars. During alterations services were held in the First Baptist Church until February 1868.

After leaving the Church, the Rev Mr Rogers became Protestant chaplain of the New Jersey State Prison at Trenton.

Presbyterians Pioneer adds that the manse at 230 Main Street was built in 1853, which would have been during Reverend Rogers' early tenure at Matawan.

FPC History: Reverend J Henry Kaufman (1871 - 1873)

The Reverend J Henry Kaufman was installed at FPC Matawan on 23 October 1871 and died two years later, nearly to the day, while serving this church.


On 7 April 1853, J Henry Kaufman was certified by the Presbytery of Philadelphia to preach the gospel, according to The Home and Foreign Record of the Presbyterian Church.

According to marriage records, J H Kaufman married Maria Louisa Vandeventer on 23 May 1855. Maria was the daughter of Princeton, NJ druggist James Vandeventer and his wife Sarah, per the 1850 census. (Perhaps Henry and Maria met while he was in seminary?)

Resolution No 177, approved by the Mayor Samuel Hinks and the City Council of Baltimore on 25 September 1855, authorized J Henry Kaufman,  pastor of the Presbyterian church at the corner of Church and Light streets, to erect an iron rail in front of the church. (This could have been the South Presbyterian Church, which was founded in April of that year and was renamed the Light Street Presbyterian Church in 1871. If so, Rev. Kaufman appears to have been their founding pastor.)

I have been unable to locate the family in the 1860 census. (The family could have been traveling in the South at the time as a daughter was born about 1861 in Georgia.)

As of the 1870 Federal Census, J Henry Kauffman was a 44 year old native of Pennsylvania in Presbyterian ministry living in Baltimore County, Maryland, with his New Jersey-born wife Maria (40), sons William (14) and Henry (12), and daughters Kittie (9) and Maria (5).  All of the children were born in Maryland, except for Kittie, who was born in Georgia. The family was rather well off, according to the 1870 census, having $6,000 in property and two black servants.

Rev J Henry Kaufman of Matawan is mentioned in the 1870-1871 Memorial Offering. Valuations recorded include $1,300 for home objects and $200 for general objects. (Someone may wish to read the full report to sort out what this memorial fund is all about.)

According to Presbyterians Pioneer at Matawan (1959), pp 36, 38:

On Sunday morning, October 26, 1873, the Rev Mr Kaufman rose and repeated, somewhat feebly, the words of the hymn to be sung:


Soon the delightful day will come,
When my dear Lord will call me home,
And I shall see his face.


He sat down and the congregation sang the hymn. Then the Rev Mr Kaufman offered a prayer and fell against the pulpit. He had suffered a heart attack and the next day died at his home.

The Matawan Journal of 1 November 1873 confirms his death on 27 October without elaboration.

As of the 1880 census, the widow M L Kaufman was living in Plainfield, NJ with 3 of her children and a servant.

The widow Maria Louisa Kaufman died 17 November 1905. Her funeral service was held at FPC Matawan on 20 November, according to the NY Tribune of 20 Nov 1905.

The Lantern: November/December 2009

The November/December 2009 edition of The Lantern is now available. It contains a full calendar of events, a message from the pastor, plus a number of articles of interest. Here's a brief summary of some of what you'll find in The Lantern:

New Activities

• Chapel now open for meditation and prayers on Sunday mornings between Sunday School and Worship.
• Six and One Half Club Friendship Dinners will be resumed on Tuesdays in the Adult Lounge.
• Church will participate in Christmas CONNECT program
  
• Donations sought: wheelchairs, walkers, and commodes
  

Previous Events:

• September: Missionaries hosted
  
• 18 October: CROP Walk
  

Upcoming Events:

• 7 November: Property Work Day
• 8 November: Youth assist in worship
• 15 November: Consecration Sunday
  
• 20-22 November: Senior Highs trip to Johnsonburg
  
• 13 December: Advent Dinner
• 20 December:  Caroling and Tree Lighting
  
• 24 December: Christmas Eve services (note change in time of Candlelight Service to 10 pm preceded by a carol sing at 9:30 pm; Family service still at 5:30 pm.)
  

FPC History: Reverend Edwin I Stearns (1909-1912)

The Reverend Edwin Ira Stearns served as minister of FPC Matawan from late 1909 to early 1912.  A young family man when he began preaching at Matawan, the Reverend and his wife Mary, both Pennsylvania natives, had been married only a year and were expecting their son Edwin when they accepted the call to Matawan. The Reverend was received by the Presbytery of Monmouth on 22 November 1909 from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, North, according to Synod of New Jersey minutes. The 1910 Federal Census for New Jersey showed the 33 year old "clergyman", his 28 year old wife, and their 1 year old son living in Matawan.

Presbyterians Pioneer at Matawan, p. 44, said the Reverend brought 38 new members into the congregation. Minutes showed that he served on the Synod of New Jersey's temperance committee (1911).

Reverend Stearns resigned 15 Feb 1912 and was replaced at Matawan by Charles H Bruce. Stearns became superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League of New Jersey, in which capacity he testified before the Judiciary Committee of Congress in 1912, per Congressional testimony found at Google Books. Note that the Anti-Saloon League, later named the Temperance League, was the leading voice for Prohibition in the US. The New Jersey office was located at 16 Clinton Street, Newark.

The 1920 Federal Census showed Edwin, his wife, and three children were back in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; Edwin was listed as a minister of the gospel. Reverend Stearns became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell, NJ in late 1920. The 23 Feb 1939 edition of The Matawan Journal said that Reverend Sterns was resigning effective 14 Apr 1939 after serving 19 years at FPC Caldwell. He brought over 1,450 new members and paid off the church mortgage during his tenure at Caldwell.

The Matawan Journal of 11 January 1935, p 4, showed Reverend Stearns living in Caldwell, NJ and still involved in temperance matters. Old Fulton NY Postcards has a document showing Reverend Stearns as a national field secretary.

Born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in September 1876, Edwin was the son of photographer Leland E and Ida E Stearns, who were living in Wilkes Barre as of the 1880 census. Edwin played football and participated in crew at University of Pennsylvania. He graduated U Penn Law School in 1899 and practiced law in Philadelphia until 1905. He was listed as an attorney at law in the 1900 census, when he was living in Philadelphia. He was a football coach at Lehigh University, Oberlin College, and Pennsylvania Military College during the same 1899-1905 period.

Edwin's interest in religion developed during his last year of college, during a lengthy illness. He graduated Princeton Theological Seminary in 1907 and was ordained at Ambler, Pennsylvania, where he held his first pastorate. He left Ambler in 1909 to become pastor at Matawan.

He married Mary Beatrice Jetter the year he was ordained. It looks like his son, Edwin I Stearns, Jr, of Caldwell, was Class of '32 at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania as of 1929, according to the school's paper, The Lafayette.