CHAPTEE  Tnry,
 

Beligions—Baptist, Hethodist, Jewisli and ftnaJcer,
 

The Baptist Chnroh—Heetii^ in Private BwelHngg—Saorament Admin¬
istered in Kie^g: Loft—The Methodist Church—The
Moiavians—The Qnaken—^The Jews.

The history of the organization and growth of the DapUst Church In
the old city la of more than ordinary Interest, Prior to 1750 the members
of this sect were few In number, and these few maintained prayer meet"
lugs for several years In private dwellings. In ITG5 they held services In a
rigging loft iu William atreet, and a sermon was occasionally delivered to
them by a minister from Scotch Plains, N. J., of tho church at wblch place
they wore considered a branch. Once in three months Elder Miller, the
pastor of the Scotch Plains church, administered tbe sacrament to tbem In
the William street rigging lofL

In ITGO a small church was founded by the sect in Gold street, between
Fulton and John, and In 17S2 the First Baptist Church was opened,
with twenty-seven members, the Rev. John Oano, a scholar of rare culture,
becoming the first pastor. Tbe infant church flourished under bis ministry
for sixteen years prior to the War of the Revolution, the membership In¬
creasing from a mere handful to over two hundred communicants. With tbo
breaking out of bostlHtles, the Rev. John Gano became a chaplain in the
army. The little congregation was scattered, and their house of worship
was turned Into a stable by the British troops. When pesce again reigned
the minister returned to the city to take up his charge, but could flnd only
thirty-seven of tbe former two hundred and flfty members of his church.
Ho valiantly set to work to re-establish the body, and In a short time tho
house of worship was rehabilitated and the membership was Increased to
nearly three hundred- In 176S Mr. Gano resigned his charge, and was suc¬
ceeded by tbo Rev. Dr. Benjamin Poster, who was the minister for ten years.
During the pastorale of his successor, the Rev. William Collier, the cburcb
in Gold street was rebuilt of stone, and in May, 1802, was dedicated, one
of the sons of the flrst pastor of the cburcb, tbe Rev. Stephen Gano, deliv¬
ering the sermon of dedication. This church was taken down In 1840, and
It is said the stone of which it was composed was worked up into a Baptist
church on the corner of Broome and Elizabeth streets, to which the con¬
gregation soon after removed.

Two other churches of this denomination wero founded near the end
of the eighteenth century, ono in Oliver atreet. In 1795, and rebuilt in 1819,
afterward known as tbe Third Baptist Church, and another In Rose street,
built of brick in 1799, and afterward known as the Fourth Baptist Cburcb.

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