In incomplete rough draft, here is what we have ...
A
meeting in Newark, New Jersey, was hosted by E. M. Deems. This may have
been the wife of Rev. Edward M. Deems, a Presbyterian. If so, she didn’t
maintain an interest in Watch Tower teachings. It is, we think, more likely
that this is a misspelling for F. M. Deans who occasionally wrote to Storrs .
A poem by Deans appeared in the September 1879 issue of Zion ’s
Watch Tower .
A Second Adventist congregation in
Newark was described as small by the May
2, 1860 issue of The Troy, New York, Daily Whig: “The Second
Adventists of Newark still keep up their weekly meetings, and are firmly grounded
in the belief that the end of all things is close at hand. The number of
believers habitually in attendance at the meetings is but small, but there is
no lack of zeal or fervor."
By Russell’s visit, there were two
Adventist congregations in Newark ,
The First Society of Second Adventists, apparently a sort of unity congregation
hosting both Life and Advent Union and Advent Christian Association believers,
met at 12 Academy Street . The were “numerically weak
and of slow growth. [1] The were “numerically weak
and of slow growth.” Church of the Messiah, an Evangelical Adventist
congregation, met at 24 Washington Street.[2]
More importantly because their theology was much closer to Russell’s, a small
One Faith congregation met in a private home. We first find them mentioned in a
report about a One Faith conference held in Brooklyn ,
New York .[3]
They seem to have been a committed body of believers, and at least one of their
number wrote a tract. Published in 1876 and entitled The True Church, it
was based on Matthew 16:16 , 17, and
meant to “show that the True Church is neither Greek, Protestant, nor Catholic.”[4]
Interest would have come primarily from these groups. The Newark
meeting was by far the most successful, and we will return to it.
[1] W. H. Shaw: History of Essex
and Hudson Counties , New
Jersey , Everts & Peck, Philadelphia ,
1884, volume 1, page 522. They drop out of the record in 1894.
[2] Quarter Century of Progress of New Jersey’s Leading
Manufacturing Centres, New York ,
1887, page 54.
[3] J. Donaldson: Report of Conference: Brooklyn ,
New York , The Restitution, November 5, 1874 .
[4] Publications for Sale
at the Restitution Office, The Restitution, November 16, 1876 . The tract was by William
Shepherd. We couldn’t locate a copy.
1 comment:
The Washington Street Church could be gathering with Mrs EM Deels, 500 Washington Street, see reprints page 112
NEWARK, N.J...Mrs. E. M. Deems, 500 Washin't'n st.
Tuesday night, June 9th.
Ton
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