USA > New York > Orange County > Walden > Anniversary of the First Reformed Church, Walden, New York, October 1st and 2d, 1893 > Part 1
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Gc 974.702 W14w 1789025
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01178 2577
ANNIVERSARY
OF THE 1. FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
WALDEN, N. Y.
OCTOBER IST AND 2D, 1893
THE FIFTY-FIFTH OF THE CHURCH THE FIFTH OF THE EXISTING PASTORATE
PUBLISHED BY THE CONSISTORY 1893
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/anniversaryoffir00unse
1789025
Mra Thomas y Powe
sne87:
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THE CHURCH AND PARSONAGE
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Printed and Bound by The knickerbocker Press, Hew Dork G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
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THE celebration hereby perpetuated and the matters herein recorded have to do with church life for a half century and a half decade added. Primarily the occasion was in the fact that the semi-centennial of the church had no public observance and no rehearsal of history. Secondarily the occasion was in the fact that the succeeding half decade was exactly coincident with the first five years of a new pastorate. The Consistory therefore having resolved the present observance, a committee from their own number and the congregation was appointed : Messrs. W. H. S. Demarest, Theron. L. Millspaugh, George B. Andrews, James S. Eaton, James M. Stephenson, and Edward Whitehead. Under their arrangements the anniversary occurred under the most favorable circumstances, with largest attendance and deepest interest. At the Sabbath morning service the Historical Discourse was given by the Pastor, the Rev. W. H. S. Demarest. At the evening service the sermon was preached by the only living precedent pastor, the Rev. M. V. Schoonmaker, D.D. On Monday evening a Reception was held in the Lecture Room at which informal and congratulatory addresses were made by the Rev. Ame Vennema, of Port Jervis, for the Classis ; the Rev. R. H. M'Cready, of Montgomery, for the mother churches ; the Rev. David Beattie, of Scotchtown, for the Presby- terian affiliation ; and Prof. D. C. Dominick, of Walden, for the local churches.
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THE MORNING SERVICE.
The Dorology : "PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW."
Ube Invocation : Concluded with the LORD'S PRAYER.
The Salutation.
Anthem : "GREAT AND GLORIOUS."
The Commandments.
kyrie Eleison.
The Dsalter : PSALM 132.
Jubilate Deo : PSALM 100.
Bpmn No. 142 : "WAKE THE SONG, O ZION'S DAUGHTER."
Lesson from the Old Testament: Ex. 40 : 34-38 ; I Kings 9: 1-5. Lesson from the new Testament : I Pet. 2: 1-10.
Draper.
Offertory : " HEAR Us, O FATHER."
hymn No. 559 : "I LOVE THY KINGDOM, LORD."
Distorical Discourse : The Rev. T. D. S. Demarest. Draper.
bymin No. 205 : " ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS' NAME." Benediction.
Recessional : "GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN."
THE EVENING SERVICE.
The Dorology : "PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW."
The Invocation : Concluded with the LORD's PRAYER.
Entbem : " HOSANNA TO GOD."
The Psalter : PSALMS 121 AND 122.
Venite Erultemus Domino : PSALM 95.
bymn No. 104: " JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME."
Lesson from the Old Testament : DEUT. 32 : 1-12.
Lesson from the new Testament : I THESS. 2: 1-14.
Draper.
Offertory: "COME UNTO ME."
bymin No. 334 : " IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST I GLORY."
The Apostles' Creed.
Che Sermon
The Rev. M. V. Schoonmaker, D.D.
Prayer.
Bymn No. 459 : "How FIRM A FOUNDATION, YE SAINTS OF THE LORD." Recessional : "GLORY BE TO GOD THE FATHER."
THE HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
PSALM 84: II.
"The Lord God is a sun and shield : the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."
THE Psalmist is telling of the spiritual beauty of the sanctuary
and the blessedness of those that dwell within it. So amiable are the tabernacles of the Lord of hosts that his soul longeth, yea even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord. So blessed are they that dwell in God's house that they go from strength to strength, appearing in Zion before him. So satisfying is experience in the holy place that it were better to be there a day and as doorkeeper than to spend unmeasured time in the tents of wickedness. And all because God dwells there and looks upon the inhabitants in the face of his anointed. As a sun he sheds there the rays of holy, heavenly life and light, that revive and rejoice. As a shield he shelters there from the hurt of all foes, from ill-thrusts that would pierce, or ill-fires that would scorch. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. The song well befits any time and place of the church's rejoicing. To-day and here it is put in our hearts and on our lips not merely by the inspired singer of Israel, but as well by some servant of God in our own Zion standing at the threshold of its life. When this house was built and an infant church was born, some one writing of its rise in preface to Con- sistory record, in ending his sketch, voiced his thanksgiving in the words of our text. Fifty years and an added five have passed, and with reason we echo the same adoration as our first-thought in the retrospect. God has given grace to his people, has caused glory to rest upon his church. Let the story of the years be our witness that he has withheld no good thing.
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But first our glance must be at beginning things, which gave rise in time to the "Hill Church." The Dutch transit of the Hudson River in 1609 opened, at once and first of all to the enter- prise of the Netherlands and to the exile of the French en route through that land, the region on the river's either bank. At King- ston or Esopus at the mouth of the Wallkill was early settlement : and before the century had waned the Dutch and the Huguenots had radiated far out along the river valleys, establishing as they came such still distinctive communities as New Paltz, with such names as Hasbrouck and Du Bois. At the Newburgh river point a little later a German nucleus formed under a patent of 1719, and that element quickly advanced westward to our borders, with such names as Bookstaver and Millspaugh. In eastern Mont- gomery of the present there settled a considerable Irish or Scotch- Irish population, with such names as Hill and Kidd. After the con- quest in 1664 certain English centres formed, or separated families brought the Anglican infusion, with such names as Colden at Cold- enham. Out of these sturdy elements was the community to fashion itself. Orange County, named for the Prince of Orange, William III. of England-vivid omen of Dutch dominance even under English tongue in state as well as church,-possibly was organized in 1683 under colonial law, in 1788 was defined by or- ganic act, and in 1798 assumed present proportions. Nearer us in circumference, the town of Montgomery, named for General James Montgomery, dates its organization from 1788; there is earlier record of a "Wallkill Precinct" about coincident in boundary ; and there had been thriving settlements from fifty and even sixty years before : of Crist, Millspaugh, Sharpus, at the present Montgomery village ; of Johannes Miller two miles south of it; of Bookstaver, Sinsabaugh, Youngblood, a mile or two north of the present Brick Church. Our immediate vicinity was earliest known as the "High Falls of the Wallkill," the stream having doubtless a Holland namesake, and the name composed of the two Dutch words for bank and stream. Just outside our present village limits, where the road issuing north turns westward to the Wallkill, Henry Wileman, an Irishman, had fixed his home as early as 1709, holding a patent for 3000 acres and giving name
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of long usage, wiemantown, to inat vicity. ine Alexander Patent lay east of us : the Galatian patent west. Directly at the foot of the falls about the middle of the last century was a grist mill, and before the century had ended another mill lower down, making a somewhat trade centre ; and both passing down in suc- cession to the industries still on the same sites to-day. Other industries sprang up from about 1822. But in 1838, the time of our church organization, the place was still the merest hamlet. In 1855 it was incorporated as a village under the name of one who had been an extensive local land-owner, Mr. Jacob T. Walden. In 1856 the cutlery industry entered, considerable but only gradual progress ensued, and during the last three or four years has its most rapid growth been known.
A briefest glance now at church establishment in the region under review. It was the Protestant faith that came with most of the pioneers. The Dutch Reformed Church came to Manhat- tan and New Netherlands first in the field, with the French Reformed almost one with it. In 1628 a minister, Jonas Michaelius, preceded two years by sub-officials, was on the ground, and in New Amsterdam the Collegiate Church was founded, to-day the oldest church in New York, if not in the land, vigorous in its age at a half dozen places of worship. As- cending the river, this branch of the faith soon had a pastor at Fort Orange, now Albany ; in 1659 organized the church at the mouth of the Wallkill, of Esopus, Wiltwyck, or Kingston, in 1683 New Paltz, in 1732 Montgomery (with German element in people, language, title), in 1737 Shawangunk, in 1770 New Hurley, in 1815 New Prospect, and in 1821 Berea. But other bodies of the Reformation were close in movement. East of us, forty or more families from Ireland (Londonderry) established the Wallkill or Goodwill church perhaps as early as 1730. At Neelytown, Graham's Corners, and Coldenham Scotch Presby- terian churches were founded before the century had closed. The Church of England came of course with the conquest. Missionary preaching was in order at Wilemantown as early as 1732 ; a dozen years later there was a church building, and to this day there is said to be one stone of the burial-ground appar-
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ent there. Out of this charge in 1770 three parishes were formed by charter from George III. ; one of them, St. Andrew's parish, immediately established its house of worship at the hamlet of that name, and in 1827 removed to this village. One other church existed here at the time of our own organization : a Reformed Presbyterian Church, a split from the church of Coldenham, and known as "New Light " Covenanters, its leader, Mr. William C. Beattie, who chiefly at his own cost erected the building, whose son was its only pastor. It existed but about half a dozen years ; lapsed about 1842, and eight years later its property was bought by the Methodist Episcopal organization. Besides this worship- ping, union services had been held from 1817, using from 1827 the academy building, now a residence, on Ulster Avenue, and also services distinctly Methodist, although the church of that order dates definite organization only from 1850.
Our own ecclesiastical order environing was the Classis of Orange. Our General Synod, after long foreign dependence, organized independently in 1794; six years later it divided its Classis of Kingston into the Classes of Poughkeepsie and Ulster ; the Ulster Classis in turn was divided in 1833, and the Classis of Orange came into existence, composed of nine churches, in- creased later by annexation in 1835 and 1850 and by organization as well. Pastors in charge in 1838 were the Rev. R. P. Lee at Montgomery, the Rev. J. H. Bevier at Shawangunk, the Rev. F. H. Vanderveer at New Hurley, the Rev. J. T. Demarest at New Prospect, the Rev. J. B. Ten Eyck at Berea ; names oft told still in those congregations. In pulpits of other order were the Rev. William Blain at Goodwill, the Rev. Hezekiah Beattie at the Reformed Presbyterian, probably the Rev. Malcolm McLaren at Neelytown and the Rev. James R. Wilson at Coldenham, while St. Andrew's was just passing from the rectorship of the Rev. Robert Shaw to that of the Rev. Henry W. Sweetzer.
Amid this environment our church was founded, the natural outgrowth of village increase distant from churches of the ancestral order. For several years a Sunday-school-which was to become the school of the organization-had been maintained in the academy building. Organized probably by Mr. Cyrus
Lyon, a farmer living at the end of present Ulster Avenue, or possibly by Mr. John Patterson, a school-teacher of the district, among its other early leaders were Mr. James Darrach, sometime teacher of the academy east of the village, Mr. Noah Millspaugh, Mr. Alexander Kidd, Mrs. Patterson, Miss Louisa Capron, and Miss Frances Scofield. Their interest also sustained a week-night prayer-meeting. But as early as 1830 a definite effort toward a church started, especially forwarded by Mr. Jesse Scofield, formerly a New York merchant, then a resident manufacturer, a staunch Presbyterian, and eager in the interests of religion. The needed site was soon made available by liberal land gifts, this splendid hill location coming from the three properties of Mr. David Parshall, Mr. Jacob T. Walden, and Mr. Jesse Scofield, a site to which, however, at that time there was no opened road. Part of the gift was conditional on building within four years, but the subscription started in 1831 gained slowly, and it was only the approach of the condition limit that stirred to decisive action. In the autumn of 1834 a meeting of those interested re- solved upon immediate start of the work, and appointed as Build- ing Committee Messrs. Jesse Scofield, also made Treasurer, Peter Neafie, Cornelius Neafie, and Augustus F. Scofield. An original subscription list contains 34 names; the highest individual amount is $500, the lowest $5, the total $1967.93. With
that amount only in hand or on paper the movement started. Material was brought from Sullivan County and some as late as April, in 1835, on snow sleds, it is said. New York skill was somewhat enlisted in the erection ; but the frame was raised by David Seaman ; and among the active workers were Alexander, Sydney and James Kidd. Building, then, was not rapid work, the structure is well built, and then finance did not favor ; so, not until two years later was the basement fit to be occupied. The Sunday-school was then removed thither from the academy, and public worship was established, various ministers officiating, among them Mr. Hezekiah Beattie, who doubtless might have been the first pastor of this church, if his New Light constituency had been willing to merge with the new movement. An attendant . of that day, who recalls on the one hand his waiting outside the
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academy that the Methodist service might close and admit his Sun- day-school, writes also of this early somewhat Covenanter service in our Lecture Room that he recollects " seeing one good old Cov- enanter brother get up during the long sermon and rest his weary back against one of those wooden columns in front," and adds, " they preached long and good sermons in those days "; a statement as to time confirmed by the credible tradition that the discourse at Mr. Beattie's own ordination was two hours and forty minutes long.
In the spring of 1838 the house was finished, and the time had come for adjustment of finance and for organization. The financial strength of the enterprise, it then plainly appeared, was Mr. Scofield's authority as Treasurer to pay all bills. His report was audited by a committee, Messrs. James Mitchell, George Weller, and Alexander Kidd, and showed a balance due him of over $8000, which, added to the original subscription, indi- cates the building cost as between $10,000 and $11,000. The obligation lingered, and in 1840 had increased to $9600. A. report then to that effect by Mr. Scofield was accompanied by an offer of $5000 of the amount, provided the rest were raised by the sale of pews or otherwise. About $2000 were realized from such sale ; whereupon the creditor became himself purchaser of the remainder, and the account was cleared. Thus the liber- ality of the one man to this society may be summed : a large gift of land, an original subscription of $500, a donation of $300 more in the name of members of his family, a debt cancel of $5000, a payment of $700 for five pews bought for himself and family, a total cash gift of about $6500, beside about $1500 invested in pews, the return from which was exceedingly uncertain. Such was the end of the beginning --- the building. A certain chronicler of that time, writing of the matter, says : "In conclusion it is worthy of special notice that the voice of Discord was not heard from its commencement to its completion. But more especially is it worthy of notice that the shield of God's gracious protection was interposed between those who labored to erect this edifice and the dangers to which they were exposed. His almighty arm warded off those injuries and accidents which in all similar undertakings thicken around the artificers, so that
no limb was broken and no life lost. The instances of the divine goodness from the time the foundation of this house was laid till the present moment are matters for thanksgiving and praise." But return now from erection and finance to organization. It had been a unique starting to build, action without decision as to denominational caste, yet with definite purpose to establish such on the finish of the house. At a meeting in the spring of 1838 the question was decided, the votes for the Reformed affiliation far outnumbering those for the Presbyterian. Entire acquiescence was manifest at once ; and in all the years since, throughout our constituency, singularly diverse in national and denominational origin, there has been universal and unswerving loyalty to the orange standard.
In August the house was dedicated, Dr. Thomas De Witt of the Collegiate Church, New York, a prince in our Israel, preaching the sermon from Isaiah II:I. At once request came before the Classis for organization : it was granted, and appointment made for the service on September 18th at eleven o'clock in the morning. The Rev. R. P. Lee was delegated to meet with the people on August 2Ist ; this meeting was convened, but was adjourned to Septem- ber Ist that the charter-list might be more complete. Completed on that day, the original membership appears as 14 : Jesse Scofield and Betsey Squires, his wife ; George Bodine ; George Tears and Mary Bodine, his wife ; Peter T. Clearwater and Catharine Com- fort, his wife ; Fanny Constable ; Alexander Kidd ; Barent Van Buren ; John D. Hamilton and Mary Kidd, his wife ; Mrs. Peter Hill ; and Mrs. David Parshall. Six came from the church of Montgomery, five from the church of Berea, Mr. Van Buren from the church of Ghent, and Mr. and Mrs. Scofield from a Presby- terian Church in New York City. All save one have passed from the church on earth. Most of them continued in our membership till their death, that of Mr. Scofield in 1852, aged 81 ; of Mrs. Scofield in 1857, aged 86 ; of Mr. Tears in 1853 and Mrs. Tears in 1854; of Miss Constable in 1853 ; of Mr. Hamilton in IS40 ; of Mrs. Hill in 1859 ; of Mrs. Parshall in 1851 ; and of Mr. Kidd in 1889, aged 82, the last surviving organizer in membership, and to the last of a heart loyally loving this house of God and delight-
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ing in thought of its sacred things. Mr. and Mrs. Clearwater soor removed to Montgomery and died within recent years. Mrs Hamilton also removed, was dismissed, and died in Brooklyn ir 1887. Mr. Van Buren returned very soon to Columbia County connected with the Reformed Church of Chatham, and died many years ago. The one charter-member still remaining is Mr. George Bodine, still resident in this village, now a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. Out of our grand total of membership, 917 names, but one continues with us dating from our first five years, from beyond the half century line of our life. The charter- meeting at once proceeded to the election of officers : Mr. Jesse Scofield and Mr. Barent Van Buren were chosen Elders, Mr. Alexander Kidd and Mr. Peter T. Clearwater, Deacons. They were ordained under order of Classis on the 18th of September, 1838 ; and the church's organic life had begun.
Doubtless the first activity was toward choice of a pastor, but not until early in 1839 was a call made. It was addressed to the Rev. Jacob C. Sears, a native of Montgomery, then settled in New Jersey. He declined it and remained with his charge, now known as the Franklin Park Church, until his death a few years ago. With the aid of Classical supplies services were maintained until in July another name had been chosen. The Rev. James B. Ten Eyck met with the Consistory and moderated a call on the Rev. John M. Scribner, then pastor of the church of Schoharie, the salary in response to usual service, and " to free him from worldly care," being "$650 for the first year, and $700 yearly thereafter, together with the use of the parsonage premises "; said premises devoid, however, of the eminent item-a parsonage. The call was approved by Classis and accepted ; and Mr. Scribner was installed August 20, 1839, the Rev. J. H. Bevier of Shawangunk preaching the sermon. This first pastorate was a brief one, in- deed, less than two years, yet not unfruitful in the church life. Starting with 14 or perhaps but 13 members, the report to Classis in 1841 indicates 60 families and 53 members. Forty communi- cants were added to the church, an average of 20 a year ; 26 of them on confession, an average of 13. Many families doubtless came from the now rapidly waning Covenanter church, first of our
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JOHN M. SCRIBNER
considerable element of sturdy Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. Soon the Consistory was increased to six members. Among those entering the Board during this period was John J. Stewart, zeal- ous in the early activities of the church, a member of it for fifty years and to-day present : also Mr. Augustus F. Scofield, early Clerk and Treasurer, who stood strongly in the fostering of the church side by side with his father, and succeeding him until, at his death in 1860, he left behind him noble memory.
Beyond the men, would that fancy could translate us for an instant to the meetings of that earliest day. It were a transfer surely to sit before the high, old-fashioned pulpit, in the high and narrow seats, perhaps above the antique foot-stove : and to sing to the bass viol's accompaniment. Mr. D. W. Rapalje, and some- times Mr. David Knapp, it was, who played the viol : Mr. Moses Smith, then Mr. David Tears, was Chorister : and in the care of seats and stoves as sexton was Mr. John B. Tears.
A great property advance of the time was the erection of the parsonage. Early in 1840 plans were adopted and subscription was started, and probably before the year had closed Mr. Scribner was in the house, the house of to-day, save for the change from single to double by adding of the south side thirty years later, and the only house on the road, save the Parshall farm-house on the corner below.
Mr. Scribner tendered his resignation on April 5, 1841, Consis- tory concurred in request for dissolution of pastoral relation, the Rev. R. P. Lee presiding, and Classis granted the request on the 20th. Mr. Lee, in his report of reasons to Classis, quotes the pastor's own words, thus : "Owing to certain circumstances which have occurred, it seems to be the path of duty both for the sake of the interests of the church and for his own future useful- ness in the ministry of reconciliation, that the connection now subsisting between himself and said church be dissolved." Although the relation was thus ended in April, Mr. Scribner continued to officiate until September. That time found the Consistory in considerable debt to their late pastor, a situation that was apparently quite embarrassing, and certainly delayed settlement of a successor. The problem was ended, so far as Mr.
Scribner was concerned, in November, by Messrs. Peter Neafie and Jesse Scofield assuming the responsibility. The obligation was cancelled, the parsonage vacated, and freedom to act again gained.
The Rev. John M. Scribner was born at Washington, Orange Co., Vermont, March 17, 1805, and died at Middleburgh, Scho- harie Co., New York, December 20, 1880. He was graduated at Union College in 1833, and at the New Brunswick Seminary in 1836. He was pastor at Schoharie for three years, then from 1839 to 1841 at Walden, thereafter was principal of certain female academies at Auburn and Rochester ; he preached some- what as supply, and about 1850 returned to Schoharie Co., locating at Middleburgh in the paper-manufacturing industry, continued till his death. One near in tie to him writes : "His favorite studies were geology and mineralogy, upon which sub- jects he has written books and delivered lectures. He was a superior mathematician, and in his earlier years prepared and published several works, among others the 'Ready Reckoner.'" A local sketch of him written at his decease says he "was a pro- gressive, enterprising man. He had in large degree that better element of character which grasps the broader view of life and expends itself in benefiting and upbuilding whole com- munities." Another writer remarks : " Although a man of some eccentricities of character, his nature was so free from hypocrisy, so abounding in an unselfish desire to see the whole community alike with himself blessed with prosperity, and his high order of intellect was exercised with such assiduity for the betterment and instruction of the masses, that every intelligent mind and heart was instinctively drawn towards him in admiration." He is also described as of "a commanding figure and vigorous constitution." His social qualities are remembered as considerable, his especial strength seems not to have been in the pulpit, and possibly life other than the ministerial proved the more congenial to him.
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