MORGAN'S HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE Page 243

PRESIDING ELDERS' REPORTS.

SECOND DISTRICT.

Trenton, N. J., April 20th, 1887.

To the Bishop and Conference:

This district comprises Rahway Station, Elizabeth Station, Jersey City (formerly called Bergen) Mission, Paterson and Newark Stations.

From the hand of our late lamented Bishop, R. H. Cain, at the rise of the last annual session of this conference, the work was committed to my care, stationing me at Newark charge as pastor.

We took hold where our predecessor left off, and looked not back, but being armed went forward, and through Him who promised - "Lo, I am with you always," we have been enabled to wind up a pleasant and successful conference year with pastors and people.

Rahway is a borough of about six thousand inhabitants, and about two hundred of these are of our race. It is situated on the Pennsylvania Railroad, five miles southwest of Elizabeth. There are two A. M. E. Churches in the town - Zion and Bethel; Bethel is an old charge, and has been supplied by some of our best ministers. I found Elder H. P. Thomas in his second year there, well surrounded by his people, and his most efficient wife in charge of the singing department. Elder Thomas has done a good work here, and if changed is worthy of a good field.

Elizabeth is quite a large city, with probably five hundred of our race. It is five miles south of Newark, with the best railroad facilities probably in the State. It was, some years ago, one of the best charges in the conference, but through mismanagement it has gone down. Our hopes are bright, however, with a strong pastor, to regain it, and as we have the sympathy of our white friends, and notwithstanding the strong opposition, Elder J. G. Mowbry has held the fort nobly, taking all things into consideration.

Jersey City (or Bergen) was dead but not buried. Our little big man, Deacon H. H. Pinkney, refused a funeral, but trusted in God's power to restore life, and therefore stuck and tugged, and with the assistance of the Presiding Elder, through God, it is alive, and with care and labor can be made a charge in time.

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