INSTANCES OF THE DIVISION BETWEEN OLD & NEW SCHOOL BAPTISTS IN THE 1830-40S - LOCKTOWN OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST CHURCH, LOCKTOWN, NJ

Brother Beebe: Perhaps a short account of the affairs of Zion in this region, may be acceptable to a portion of your readers.  About one year ago Mr. Wigg, having industriously labored to supplant a fellow laborer, and supposing that he had succeeded, informed the church of Kingwood, of which he was pastor, that he was going to leave them, and I think, resigned his charge; but alas! poor fellow, he found that Zion's King has something to in the placing, sustaining, and removing his ministers ( a truth which I fear he was totally ignorant of before;) but when he found his sad mistake, by some maneuvering, he was invited by some of Kingwood Church to remain with them; but this was effected to the grief of many of the dear disciples.

From that time many who love the Lord and his truth, have been sighing in sadness.  Some time back, some of the brethren, whose souls were already famishing for the wholesome pastures, being by him only fed on human wisdom, fearing, he would remain with them, endeavored to get rid of him but in order to prevent them, he invited a New School man who is almost a perfect adept at working the revival machinery, to come to his aid.  This succeeded admirably.  Some of the members fell in with the measures, while others took a stand against them, the result is, that Isaac and Ishmael can no longer dwell together.

But how grossly dishonorable the New School is!  After having abandoned the doctrine and practice of the church, and caused disunion and division, than to endeavor to dispossess the lawful proprietors of their meeting houses is too audacious; yes too low for honorable men of the world to be guilty of.  But, God reigns, let the saints rejoice; he will cause the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain; no weapon formed against Zion shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against her, she shall condemn.  The same New School revivalist employed at Kingwood had been sometime before at Lambertville and baptized a large number.; how many I do not know; but at that place, the children of Zion were too scarce to make much resistance, and some withdrew after having obtained their letters.  Mr. John Segar is now their preacher.

The Brethren at Kingwood are now without a preacher,; brethren of the Old School who may call on them will be received joyfully.  May the Lord who ascended up on high and received gifts for men soon bestow some of those gifts on them.  On the fourth Sunday in February, there was a church constituted in the city of Philadelphia, where I believe the truth will be relished.  Now as Paul was willing to preach the gospel to his brethren at Rome, where a door was opened, so it appears a door is now opened in Philadelphia, where Paul's brethren who believe and preach the same doctrine may proclaim salvation through our Lord.

Yours in the fellowship of the gospel which binds the cords of love,

James B. Bowen
Signs of the Times, April 15, 1839