1890-Salter-A history of Monmouth and Ocean counties-Mormonism in Ocean County

Mormonism in Ocean County

from A history of Monmouth and Ocean counties by Edwin Salter, pp. 252-254.

In 1837, Elder Benjamin Winchester preached the first Mormon sermon in Ocean county, in a schoolhouse in New Egypt. Winchester was from the State of New York, and one of the early disciples of Joseph Smith. He continued for some time to hold regular services here, and in his discourses gave minute account of the alleged original discovery of the golden plates of the Book of Mormon near Palmyra, New York, by Joseph Smith, and their translation by him and Sidney Rigdon, and claimed that they were deposited by a people two thousand years before, whom they said were the Lost Tribes of Israel. He also preached in neighboring places. He made some fifty converts, who were baptized; among them was Abraham Burtis, who became a preacher, and a large number joined the society at Hornerstown, where they finally built a church, and where a good many respectable people adhered to the faith. The church has since gone down, but a few people remained favorably impressed with the principles. Their labors extended to Toms River, and here, too, they built a small church on the south side of the river, which is remembered as the first building in which the Ocean County Courts were held after the County was established, and before the court house was built. Their preachers also went as far south as Forked River, where they made a considerable impression, and baptized some in the mill pond—the preacher complimenting one convert, it is said, by saying, after immersing her, that he saw the devil as big as an owl leave her!

Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, visited New Egypt, Hornerstown and Toms River, in 1840, and sealed a large number. William Smith, brother of the prophet, frequently preached at New Egypt; he preached the funeral sermon of Alfred Wilson, who was originally a Methodist, but became a Mormon preacher. James L. Curtis, originally a Methodist, also became a Mormon preacher. The present successor of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, as head of the Mormon Church, is John Taylor, who has also preached in Ocean county, and was probably the last who preached as far south as Forked River. He held forth about 1851, in the old Forked River schoolhouse, and his sermon seemed to differ but little from an old-fashioned Methodist sermon on the necessity of salvation, as he made but little allusion to the peculiar tenets of Mormonism. About 1852 many Mormon converts left Ocean county for Salt Lake City, among whom were Joseph Chamberlain and family, of Forked River, and a number of respectable families from Toms River. They encountered serious hardships in crossing the plains. It is generally conceded that the Mormon converts were noted for sincerity, industry and frugality.

Of Joseph Smith's visit to New Egypt, some amusing stories, probably exaggerated, are told at the expense of converts, such as of a wealthy man being told by Smith to repair to a particular tree at a certain hour of the night and pray for direction from Heaven, and the Lord would reply. Accordingly the man sought the place and prayed as directed; he was answered by a voice from above, which, among other things, directed him to give a good share of his worldly goods to the prophet Smith; but the man seemed to doubt it being the voice of an angel — it sounded more like Smith himself concealed in the branches.

The little Mormon church at Toms River was bought in 1878 by Franklin Harris and is now a part of his storehouse.

In June, 1878, Rev. Wm. Small, a Mormon preacher, held services in Shinn's Hall, New Egypt.