[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E659-E660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITARIAN CHURCH OF MONTCLAIR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 15, 1997

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention 
the momentous occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Unitarian Church 
of Montclair, NJ.
  The church dates from February 1897, when a few women gathered to 
consider the feasibility of forming a Unitarian Society. Having a 
church school for their children was of their greatest concern, and 
therefore the women began preparing themselves as teachers. In 1898, 
the church's first minister, the Rev. Arthur Grant, was called, and 
both the church and the church school were organized. Reverend Grant 
was succeeded in 1902 by Rev. Leslie Sprague, and it was during his 
ministry that the church was built on its present site.
  In 1906, the Rev. Edgar Swan Wiers was called and continued as 
minister until his death in 1931. During his ministry, and with keen 
interest from himself and the congregation in the cultural life of the 
community, Reverend Wiers established a forum series, a Unity 
Institute, and a concert series which has continuously brought the best 
available talent to Montclair. Later in Reverend Wiers' ministry, Unity 
Institute was expanded to include a travel series as well as a chamber 
music series. Interest in the institute's programs of the performing 
arts, theatrical, musical, and the fine arts was vast and continued in 
numerous concerts, plays, monologs, and art shows. From the forum 
series grew the Collegiate Pulpit.
  Dr. Norman Fletcher became the church's minister in 1932 and his 
concern for civil rights, as well as his love of English literature and 
the theater was evident. During the years of World War I, the church's 
women's alliance was very active in several war projects. The women's 
alliance continued with its concern for the people as well as its 
support for the church through projects such as fairs and rummage 
sales.
  Throughout the 1950's, church membership soared with scores of chairs 
being placed in the church's aisles to accommodate the growing 
congregation. This remarkable increase in members led to numerous 
discussions concerning the need for a new church. The

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church school, with close to 500 members, outgrew the basement 
classrooms and the public library located next door was bought from the 
township for church use.
  In 1970, Dr. George J.W. Pennington was appointed as an associate 
minister, and in 1972, upon the retirement of Dr. Fletcher, who had 
become minister emeritus, Dr. Pennington became a full minister. With a 
second profession as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Pennington managed to 
increase the amount of counseling work done and also lent a 
psychological tone to many of his sermons. As with the times, the 
church became less formal, and in March 1982, Dr. Pennington resigned.
  The Rev. Lee Barker was called to the ministry of the church in 1983 
and had been with the church until June 1994. His ministry was 
distinguished by a growth of membership and a continuing commitment to 
community outreach.
  Called to the pulpit in April 1995, the Reverend Charles Blustein 
Ortman became the seventh minister of the church on November 4, 1995. 
Reverend Ortman continues to serve as minister and, along with the 
church's congregation, is looking forward to the centennial anniversary 
of the Unitarian Church of Montclair.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, Reverend Ortman, 
members of the congregation, and the township of Montclair, in 
recognizing the outstanding and invaluable service to the community and 
the 100th anniversary of the Unitarian Church of Montclair.

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