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.