USA > New York > Onondaga County > Baldwinsville > Catalogue and historical sketch, of the Presbyterian Church, Baldwinsville, N. Y > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
The loss by fire of our earliest church records is largely compensated by the memories of some of our oldest members and also by the excellent historical sermon, now kindly placed at our service, preached by Rev. Mr. Kendall the last Sabbath before leaving the old church.
The middle of 1813 was the middle of that war which attracted national attention to this northern border.
According to Mr. Clark's history, this was six years after the first house was built on the north side of the river. In 1807 Dr. J. C. Baldwin built a log house on the bank of the river just above where the canal intersects it. Capt. Wells and Mr. McHarrie had built on the south side a few years earlier. In 1809 the Assembly authorized the canal, with its requisite dam and locks, which has given our village its manufacturing activity, though then designed to facilitate trade and travel upon the river. By the Mohawk, Wood Creek, Oneida Lake. the Outlet and the Seneca there was much traffic Westward in those early days. Dr. Baldwin opened a store here in 1807, Judge Bigelow in 1813. Mr. Hamill in 1816. The Postoffice was established in 1807 and called by the original name of the village, "Columbia."
.
21
PERIOD OF THE OLD RED SCHOOL HOUSE.
The historical sketch may well be grouped into three periods indicated by the three places of worship, and the first will extend from the organization of the Church, July 31, 1813, to the dedication of the new meeting-house in March, 1830. The Church was organized by Rev. Ebenezer Lazelle, a missionary from some Eastern association. Most of the fourteen members that formed the new church were from the region toward New Bridge: Cyrus and Susan Baldwin; Thomas and Betsey Farrington; George and Mary White; Eunice. Sarah and Lucy Porter; Levi. Manasseh, Levi, jr .. and Mary Calkins and William Van Fleet. The first three brethren above mentioned were elected Elders Nov. 12, 1813.
The first service, held by Rev. Mr. Lazelle. was in a barn near Squire Munro's corner. A hogshead was made to answer for a pulpit. while the hay and rough boards served for seats. The Red School House was built soon after, where the gravel bed now is on West Oneida street, and furnished the only place of worship for many years.
The second minister, Rev. Jolin Davenport. gave the initial direction to several projects successfully carried out in after years. He organized the "Female Charitable Society," which has been such a power in prayer and benevolence. He worked in some of the neighboring churches before coming here and was the first Moderator of the old Onondaga Presbytery in 1810. "He was well educated, had a large library, was pious. useful and devoted to his work." He died at his post here, July 13, 1821, aged 69, and was buried in our beautiful cemetery beside the river. During the School House period the church employed five other ministers and received one hundred and sixteen members in seventeen years; many being by letters from other churches, which shows a rapid increase of population at that time.
To avoid some "unpleasantness" in the way of discipline the church changed to the Congregational form of government in 1828 and remained so till 1836, when it returned to the Presbyterian fold.
Succeeding Rev. Mr. Kellogg, who began the movement for a new church building and who afterward became President of Knox College, came Rev. E. C. Beach, who says he "found the church in a very disheartened state, the Sabbath congregations very small, not more than twenty or thirty, no prayer meetings and but few male members who could be relied on to sustain such meetings. He set vigorously to work, established a Sabbath afternoon Bible class which was attended by a large number of wicked young men. In the autumn of 1830 some citizens of this village were converted in Onondaga and came home to spread revival influences around them." But this fact properly belongs to the next period. As early as 1828 a Committee had been appointed to raise money for a new meeting-house; the effort proved successful in 1830. This brings us to the close of the Old Red School House, so blessed in memories that it is sad to look upon it in its present windowless and battered desolation, buffeted by the north winds.
.
22
PERIOD OF THE WOODEN CHURCH.
From March, 1830, to March, 1865. This building, familiar to us as "Herrick's Hall," was in its time very roomy and substantial. As has been suggested the people entered their new house of worship under the bright smile of the Holy Spirit. The revival at that time was of utmost moment. "It lifted the Church ont of the Slough of Despond, it gave it new life and hope. it removed the old prejudices, it placed the Church in a condition thereafter to command respec . About thirty were re- ceived to the Church. It was not a large number but it brought tre- mendons weight of influence out of the world into the Kingdom of God." Soon after this rich harvest. Mr. Beach removed to the Lysander Church and was blessed in his life long ministry. He died in 1868.
Some years later this Church. with all this portion of the State was spiritually quickened under the preaching of Finney and Nettleton. Rev. Mr. Myrick held a protracted meeting here and many turned unto the Lord. "Abont the year 1834 Rev. Mr. Hough preached alternately here and at Warners: when there was no preaching. Dr. Lawrence used to read a sermon. The Church afterwards was prosperous for some time under Rev. Mr. Williams and when at last he acquainted the people with his heretical views it was a great blow and came near dividing the Church." Again in 1841. under Rev. Mr. Brown, the Church was largely revived. The Rev. Dr. Hogarth, then a student in the Seminary, helped in the good work and is still very gratefully remembered by those who were converted at that time. "Among the fruits of that revival were Rev. Edwin Adams, Home Missionary to Wisconsin: Rev. Rollin Porter, Missionary to Gaboon. Africa, under the American Board."
From 1842 to 1851, during the long pastorate of Rev. Mr. Walker there was no considerable revival but good growth in membership, seventy-one being added to the Church. Mr. W. moved to Goshen. Mass. and died there in 1873. aged 61. During the succeeding ministry of Rev. Mr. Young there was an ingathering of eighty and a material increase of zeal and loyalty to the Church. Of those joining at that time was Rev. E. R. Davis, who after faithful service in the pastorate is now engaged in the special revival work in Chicago. At this period a pleas- ant house was purchased by the Society as a parsonage. Our book of Records which is perserved opens with the sentence. "1855, a series of religious meetings commenced about the 1st of February which contin- ued until the middle of March ; during which about fifty individuals were hopefully converted to God. of whom thirty are heads of families. Preaching principally by Rev. W. W. Newell of Syracuse." Rev. Dr. Newell, now of New York city, is pleasantly remembered in this region. We are now brought to a period familiar to all the older members of the Church. Rev. now Dr. John F. Kendall was installed pastor of the Church August 30, 1859. The Church had reached its lowest point as regards members, having but one hundred and one. His ministry of nine years was marked by great temporal and spiritual prosperity. The present house of worship was largely due to his indefatigable endeavors.
-
23
PERIOD OF THE BRICK CHURCH.
This building was dedicated March 8. 1865. In his history of the enterprise. read at the dedication, Rev. Mr. Kendall, after speaking of the failure of a previous effort to build, says, -- "On the 11th of July. 1863. a gentleman dropped a remark at his dinner table which gave the first grand impulse to the work whose accomplishment you meet here to-day to witness." The building of this beautiful house of worship was not only an era of advance for the Church but also for the com- munity inasmuch as the other religious societies were stimulated to do good work in the same way so that our village is now widely noted for its attractive Churches. It was providential that there was then in the pastorate the right man to carry forward this project to a successful issue. for it is doubtful if the Church has seen a time before or since when the work could have been so well accomplished. The cost of the building was $18,300. The principal givers and gifts were as follows : James Frazee, $2,000: Warren S. White. $2,000; Payn Bigelow, $1,100; Baldwin estate. 81.000; Hezekiah R. Dow, $1,000; Dudley D. Norton, $1,000: E. Kirby West. $800; W. D. Wells, $600 ; E. E. Wells, #600; C. F. Emerick. 8600: S. C. Snydam, $600: J. & H. Bowman, $400; P. L. Perine. $300; Rev. John F. Kendall. 5250; James G. Smith, 8250; Irvin Williams, $250; D. B. Giddings, $200; O. B. Herrick, $200.
On entering the new building as on entering the old the smile of the Holy Spirit rested on the people "and the glory of the Lord filled the house." We are permitted to quote from Mr. Kendall's "Seventh Anniversary Sermon," preached in May, 1866, "The most memorable event which this Church will ever have to remember in connection with the year now closing will be the blessed and glorious revival which we have enjoyed. There were reasons why the Church should have been particularly active and zealous in the cause of Christ. The successful accomplishment of the great enterprise in which we had so long been engaged called for devout acknowledgements and more devoted service. Yet while there were these claims upon us we seemed to have forgotten God and to have strayed hopelessly from his ways." He then speaks of a hopeful visit to Pompey, at that time enjoying a revival. and of the union services with the valuable assistance of Rev. Mr. Steele. "At the very beginning of the Week of Prayer interest was manifested by the impenitent." The work went forward till a great number had found peace in believing. . "The results of such a work can only be told in Eternity. Many souls have been saved, which is one incalculable benefit ; but the work is not measured by that: impressions have been made upon the community which will tell in after years for the benefit of the cause." During Mr. Kendall's ministry here one hundred and fifty - eight were added to the church. Early in 1868 he accepted a call to Columbus, Ohio, and is now at LaPorte. Ind., in charge of the most prominent church in that part of the State. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Wabash College in 1873.
During the summer after his removal this church was most happily under the care of the Rev. Dr. Huntington of Auburn. The present
E t E
24
pastor preached his first sermon here the last Sabbath in June. 1968, but did not begin regular work till September. Of these later years we have little need to speak. In temporal things we have cause for thankfulness: we have paid the little balance of church debt; we have placed in the gallery one of JJohnson's good organs, at the cost of $2.500; by the aid of the Mite Society and the Y. P. A. we have tastefully frescoed the church. hung very attractive chandeliers above our heads and spread a very pleasant carpet beneath our feet. There has been a growth in membership till we stand third on the list of Presbytery; we have enjoyed two special "times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord," and have also welcomed at nearly every communion those who were led to Christ by more quiet methods. The prediction above quoted has been mnost abundantly fulfilled, and we feel like saying,-"Other men labored and we are entered into their labors." May it also be ours to do seed sowing for future harvests!
The early days of 1874 were especially precious with the presence of the Spirit. The Pastor gratefully acknowledges the spiritual impulse he received in attendance npon the meetings then conducted by Rev. Mr. Earle in Syracuse. Little by little the work begun in the Week of Prayer broadened and deepened we hardly know by what human methods ; the people had a mind to work and were consciously directed by the Spirit so that the whole region was " canvassed for souls." We were greatly indebted to Rev. Dr. Eddy and Rev. Messrs. Bacon. Beard, Berger, Millard and Thurber of Syracuse and to Rev. Dr. John- son and Prof Beecher of Auburn, for most helpful preaching service.
During those sirty days of constant pressure, with all the warmth of wise and unwise zeal, in persuading men to decide for Christ. many mistakes were doubtless made, but on the whole in its quietness. in its simplicity, in its fervor and in its thoroughness it was a grand Pente- costa! season. That one communion day crowns all other days. That first Sabbath in March. 1874, when ninety-nine stood up together and entered into covenant with God and with this church must remain in our history one of the never to be forgotten days.
During the present pastorate one hundred and ninety-eight have been received into the church.
---: 0:
PASTORS SINCE 1S12.
Rev. Townsend Walker; Williams College 1839; Auburn Seminary 1843; here 1842-51; died at Goshen. Mass .. 1873, aged 61.
Rev. J. R. Young; Union College 1842: New York Seminary 1845: ordained 1847; here 1852-57; now in Albany.
Rev. E. M. Toof: here 1857-59; now in Schoolcraft, Mich.
Rev. J. F. Kendall, D. D .: Hamilton College 1857; Anburn Sem- inary 1859; ordained and installed Aug. 30, 1859; here till 1868; now in LaPorte, Ind.
Rev. E. B. Parsons: Williams College 1859; New York and Auburn Seminaries 1865; ordained as Chaplin Apr. 11, 1865; installed here 1868.
D 285%,
MAY 75
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.