USA > New York > Orange County > Newburgh > Centennial celebration of the First Presbyterian Church, Newburgh, New York, 1784-1884 > Part 2
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But the time had now come when it must be done. The demand was impera- tive. And on the 25th of July, 1857, the Trustees resolved to go forward with the enterprise. This present site was wisely chosen, but not without much discussion and opposition, for there were some who were so strongly attached to the old loca- tion that they could not readily entertain the thought of having the new Church edifice elsewliere. On that old site-that of the present Union Presbyterian Church -had stood the old storehouse of Revolutionary times, which their fathers had converted into a place of worship. It seemed to them holy ground. But happily from our point of view to-day inore judicious counsels prevailed. And here it was built, a massive atructure, grand in its proportions, beautiful in the symmetry of its outlines, a Christian Temple suggestive of the Scripture words spoken of old, "I will make the place of my feet glorious." The work was begun on the 8th of August, 1857. It was dedicated November 5th, 1858, and on November 10th (Thanksgiving Day) the iron cross was raised and fixed on the spire. A few words in regard to the old Church building may be of interest to some, especially to the young. It was sold to the Union Associate Reformned Church which then wor- shipped in what is now the Bethel Chapel. This church was a child of the vener- able Associate Reformned Church, now under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Mac- naughtan, and its first pastor was the Rev. John Forsyth. Very soon after its re- moval it united with the old Scotch branch of the Presbyterian Church, Thirteen years later, in 1871, the old meeting house was removed to give place to the present commodious and attractive edifice now occupied by that congregation.
But to return. The prosperity of the Church in this, its new and stately home, continued. Its pecuniary resources were increased. Its roll of ineinbership was extended. It kept full pace with the growth of the community in population and material wealth. The sixteen years, which was the duration of Dr. Sprole's pas- torate marked an important era in the life of the Church. At what was probably the most critical time in its history he assumed the pastoral charge of it. Under the blessing of God his labors imparted a fresh inspiration of zeal and energy. A few years later the town made rapid advance in all material interests. It became a city. Amid all this progress, and with this awakened spirit of enterprise around it, this Church was not behind its sister Churches "in lengthening its cords and strengthening its stakes." These years were years of great usefulness and invalu- able service to the Church.
Dr. Sprole resigned his charge November 4, 1872. In the year 1874, he accepted the call of the Second Congregational Church in Detroit, which he resigned in 1877. And on the 9th day of June, 1883 he "entered into the joy of the Lord." Whatever monument may now or hereafter inark his grave, this edifice stands as the endur- ing inonuinent of his faithful ministry to this Church.
The congregation was not long without a ininister after the resignation of Dr. Sprole. In February, 1873, it honored the present encumbent with a call to this responsible trust, and with March his ministry among you began, though the in- stallation was postponed until May-until after the regular Spring meeting of the Presbytery. Concerning these nearly twelve years of mutual labor in the cause of Christ and His Kingdom, it is not needful that I speak to-day, having so recently reviewed in a general way the ten years of iny pastorate. Whatever statistics it is desirable to preserve, for future reference, will be inserted in the proposed printed volume, which will contain the reports of the Centennial Anniversary of the Church. It is all sufficient to briefly say that I have been permitted to gather much fruit from the seed sown by iny predecessor ; that God has blessed us with unity, harmony and peace, and has given us more prosperity-temporal and spir- itual-than our prayers and our work have deserved. These twelve years have wrought great changes in this congregation, of which many of you must be often reminded as you sit in these pews. Many honored heads of families, and among them not a few officers of the Church, have passed away from us. Brethren let us
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10
be prepared for the summons, mindful of the admonition of our Lord, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man comneth."
Thus have we taken our rapid flight over this century of church life. The re- records show that during these three pastorates that cover more than three-quarters of this long period there have been two thousand and ninety additions to the Church, fourteen hundred and twenty-three marriages, and thirteen hundred and sixty- eight baptisms. They show a continuous history of prosperity. But it has not been without labors and prayers, which no record has or can preserve. The life even of a inan can never be truly written, much less that of a Church. There are a few reflections which have come to iny own mind as I have been busy in these historical researches, one or two of which I desire to give to you before clos- ing. Time will not permit ine to aniplify even these. They are in the spirit of the text. "In remembering the days of old and considering the years of iliany genera- tions," we learn that the Church of Christ has in itself an enduring strength and an all-conquering force. These are to be found in the truth upon which it is built --- upon the Christ who is the answer of man's conscious or unconscious need. That truth lies in the depths of every inan's conscience. To the degree it is taught in its purity and simplicity and in the prayerful dependence upon the Almighty Spirit of truth and holiness, it will prove to be its own witness. The conflict of this truth with error in the early history of this church is a bright illustration of this. Its triumphs are a testimony to us of the present generation who look upon these sanie everlasting hills upon which they looked, and to those who shall look upon them after we are gone to the abiding power of the simple Truth of the Gospel over unbelief and error.
We learn too that in this Church of Christ there are not only this inherent strength and force for its own preservation, but for the moral life and health of the community in which it exists. It is not too much to say that froin the Church, whatever be its shortcomings, and they are inany; whatever be the faults of its ad- ministration and its works, and they are not a few, there are ever proceeding those silent and active influences which are for the promotion and conservation of the good morals of a community, which are for the protection of society against the evils and the vices that would destroy the happiness of its homes and retard its prosperity. What were the moral condition of Newburgh to-day; what its man- ners and customs ; what the advantages and prospects offered to its youth ; what the respect for government, for law and order ; what the safety of its homes by night ; what the safety of its pedestrians by night or by day, were it not for the Churches of Christ ? Take also in the briefest form this thought for reflection.
The influence of this Church of Christ that has so nobly sustained its life through these hundred years, and in that time has done so grandly its part in the moral and spiritual education of the community, has been only the aggregate of the moral and spiritual forces which each inember has contributed. They lived unconscious of the full value of their humble work. It has been enduring. It is iniperishable. There is in this thought great encouragement for us of to-day, who, receiving this sacred heritage from the fathers, are seeking to preserve it and to perpetuate it. Take to-day anew into your hearts the precious promise of our Lord, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
The records of the Trustees of the Church are complete from the day of its incorporation-the 12th of August, 1784-to the present time. Among the very early records are some " items" of peculiar interest from which the following are selected :
1787 .- Nov. 2:
Inventory of property, mnade under the State law:
Meeting House cost (much out of repair) 40 pounds.
Land belonging thereto (North). 60 66
100 pounds.
1795 .- March 23:
Voted that three pounds per annum be allowed Mr. Lawrence for sweeping the house and keeping an eye to the windows and taking charge of the key.
11
1796 .- Sept 5 :
Resolved, That ministers of the Presbytery be accommodated with lodgings, etc., at the houses of the following persons, viz .: John Anderson two, John McAulay two, Benjamin Case two, Edmund Griswold two, Isaac Hasbrouck two, and Alex- ander Wood one.
1798 .- January 22 :
Invited Rev. Mr. Lewis for three months on trial, for 37 pounds 10 shillings.
The Sessional Records extant date from April 25, 1799, and are complete to the present time. The church roll at that time contains thirty-five names, eleven miales, twenty-four females. Only two of them are familiar family names in our church life to day-those of Belknap and Hasbrouck. This number was afterward increased to sixty-five, though when Dr. Johnston assuined the pastorate there were upon the roll only thirty-seven names. These Records during the earlier years consist chiefly of cases of Church discipline, as do the records of all our churches. But there is one item of especial and unusual interest, and as it reflects deserved credit upon the pastor whose faithful service has been brought afresh before our minds, should be particularly noted. It relates to the founding of two scholarships in Princeton Seminary, by meinbers of the Church.
Dr. Johnston took a deep interest in the education of young men for the ministry. He was a devoted, zealous friend of the Theological Seminary at Princeton. He stood alone in his Presbytery, both in his advocacy and in his vote, when the pro- position was sent by the General Assembly to ascertain the wishes of the Presby- tery regarding the establishment of this Seminary. Through his instrumentality two scholarships of twenty-five hundred dollars each were secured for it from mem- bers of this Church. The right to name the beneficiaries was invested in the Ses- sion of the Church.
One was founded in 1831 by Robert Hall and his sister Marion, and named by them the E. D. Scholarship. [For an explanation of this title see Joshua xx., 34.] The Church Records state that they were natives of Scotland, and had been brought up under the ministry of Dr. Brown of Haddington. For the greater part of their lives they had been school teachers in Scotland and this country.
The other scholarship, which was productive in 1837, was founded about the same time by Gilbert King, and was named after the founder the "King Scholarship." These benefactors were buried in the old Cemetery adjoining the Church. Marion Hall, who died at an advanced age, requested if anything was put upon her head- stone, it should be " To know as I am known : I know nothing, but I am ganging to know."
The amounts contributed by the Church for benevolent and other causes during these hundred years cannot be ascertained from the Church records. It is only of a comparatively recent date that the Church collections have been made a matter of record. The Minutes of the General Assembly, containing the reports of the contributions of all its Churches to the several Boards would show the approxi- mate amount. But as no full series of these Minutes is at hand, even this cannot be ascertained.
In the review of my ten years' pastorate recently given, it was stated that the amount contributed in that period to various causes of benevolence was twenty-five thousand one hundred and sixty-seven dollars, and to congregational purposes seventy-nine thousand one hundred and sixty-eight dollars, making the sum total one hundred and four thousand three hundred and fifty dollars, or nearly ten thou- sand five hundred dollars yearly. During this period a parsonage has been pur- chased at a cost of ten thousand dollars-the free-will offering of the people.
During this period also the Church has maintained a prosperous Mission in the Bethel Chapel on North Water Street. It had existed previously as an independent organization, though drawing very largely its pecuniary support and its teachers from the membership of the Church. When it became organically connected with the Church, it was under the Superintendency of Elder Robert G. Rankin, who died August 29, 1878. Since then Mr. William B. Brokaw has served as Superintendent. The Mission has always had an efficient corps of workers, and has been instrumen- tal under God's blessing of accomplishing great good. Mr. John C. Hasbrouck has been for many years the Librarian. Mr. Edwin G. F. Marsh, formerly a scholar in the school, now serves as Assistant Librarian.
12
It is to be regretted that there is no complete list of the Superintendents of the Home Sabbath School. For several years it has been under the Superintendency of Elder M. C. Belknap. In spite of many disadvantages from the insufficient accommodations afforded in the chapel, the infant classes and the Bible classes being obliged to meet in the church, the labors of zeal, of devoted and faithful teachers have been greatly blessed to the Church. The present Librarian is Henry M. Waring, and the Assistant Librarian is Stephen J. Smith.
The continuous Records of the Church begin with January 12th, 1801, when the Rev. Jonathan Freeman was called to the pastorate of the united congregations of New Windsor and Newburgh. He was installed May 6, 1801. At that time the Elders of the Church were :
Abel Belknap,
Elected 1799. William Holmes, .
Elected 1799. 66
Daniel Birdsall,
William Lawrence,
Gilbert Jones, elected 1799.
William Lawrence was an Elder of the Church as early as 1784. Selah Reeve. was chosen Elder in 1793, and Thomas Cooper in 1799.
Since that time the following have served in the Eldership :
Sylvester Roe,
Elected 1810.
William K. Mailler,
Elected 1845.
Jacob R. Evanston.
John McClelland,
6.
Joseph Clark,
1812.
John W. Wells,
1856.
Robert Magill,
Charles B. Royce,
66
1858.
George Betts,
66
66
P. V. B. Fowler,
1861. 66
Eli H. Corwin,
66
1819. 66
John L. Westervelt.
66
Abel Belknap,
66
66
James O. Conklin,
66
1867.
Samuel Nichols,
6.
D. S. Waring,
66
66
John W. Wells,
66
66
M. C. Belknap,
66
1874.
Abel Belknap,
1839.
Charles E. Snyder, Daniel Smith,
1879.
Henry Tice, Jr.,
1842.
Martin L. Lee,
66
66
1884.
Peter H. Foster,
66
66
George Barnes,
66
66
Benjamin Tyler,
66
1845.
R. Howell,
1
From the continuous Records of the Trustees the following complete list of Trus- tees has been made :
Adolph Degrove,
Elected 1784.
Edmund Grisworth,
Elected 1795.
Daniel Hudson,
Eleazer Gidney,
Thomas Palmer,
Levi Dodge ..
66
1798.
Joseph Coleman,
Burras Holmes,
66
1800.
Isaac Belknap,
John Mandeville,
66
1804.
Robt. Ross,
1785.
Nathaniel Dubois,
",
1814.
Benjamin Coffin,
Jacob Schultz,
66
66
Gilbert Jones, M.D.,
66
66
William Walsh, George Betts,
John Harris,
66
1817.
Benjamin Smith,
66
1788.
Thomas P. Fish,
66
1813.
Selah Reeve,
66
1790.
Henry Tice,
66
1818.
Christian Vanduzer,
Samuel Nichols,
66
66
Abel Belknap,
Eli H. Corwin,
66
Benjamin Case, Sr.,
1793.
Samuel Williams,
66
1821.
Daniel Smith,
66
66
John Chambers,
66
1822.
Moses Craft,
James Law,
1825.
John Anderson,
Aaron Belknap,
66
1828.
Richard Hill,
1795.
Chas. H. Johnes,
1830.
€
Arthur Potts,
Jacob Schultz,
66
1816. 66
Henry Tice,
James McLaurie, M.D.,
William Sterling,
1834.
Robt. C. Rankin,
66
William Teller,
66
James W. Taylor,
66
1875.
Jacob Kerr,
66
6
Elias Peck,
66
66
Jacob R. Everston.
6
1816.
John Bubois,
1786.
66
Derrick Ammerman,
66
Isaac Hasbrouck,
1792.
66
66
Benjamin Birdsall,
Abel Belknap,
Charles B. Armstrong,
66
Jacob Ostraın,
66
66
John Schoonmaker,
1
13
Chas. H. Bellows, . . Elected 1832.
George M. Clapp, . Elected 1867.
Benjanıin Carpenter, .
66 1839.
John Galt,
George Cornwell,
66
1840.
James W. Taylor,
66 1869.
Ackman Speir,
66 1843.
M. C. Belknap,
66 1870.
William K. Mailler,
66 1845.
George H. Southard,
1871.
Lewis D. Lock wood,
66 1848.
William M. Raymond,
66
66
Edward R. Johnes,
66
1855.
William O. Mailler,
66
66
Charles B. Armstrong,
66
Daniel Smith,
1873.
Selah R. Van Duzer,
66
1858.
Alfred Bridgeman,
1878.
Daniel B. St. John,
1860.
John Schoonmaker,
1879.
Henry Ball,
Samuel Stanton,
66
66
Harvey Weed,
66
60
Howard Thornton,
66
1882.
Benjamin Carpenter,
66
1861.
David Carson,
06
1883.
Jonas Williams, elected 1883.
The Records have preserved the following names of Presidents of the Board of Trustees :
William Walsh,
Elected 1818.
E. R. Johnes,
Elected 1871.
S. R. Vanduzer,
1856. J. W. Taylor,
1877.
Harvey Weed,
1861.
W. O. Mailler,
1883.
Also the following names of Clerks of the Board :
John Dubois,
Elected 1790.
Jacob Schultz,
Elected 1817.
Robert Gardiner,
1796.
E. H. Corwin, .
1818.
George Monell,
1800.
M. H. Belknap,
1826.
George Betts,
66
1814.
M. C. Belknap,
1855.
Also the following names of Treasurers :
John Dubois,
Elected 1790. John Harris,
Elected 1819.
John McCauley,
1795. M. H. Belknap,
1841.
George Betts,
66 1816.
M. C. Belknap,
66 1855.
No complete list of Deacons can be made. The Sessional Records of the early years show that occasionally some of the Elders were chosen to perform the duties of the Diaconate. For long periods there is no especial mention of the election of Deacons.
Since the year 1874 there have been orderly chosen by the Church and solemnly set apart to this office the following :
Martin L. Lee,
H. W. Siglar.
William C. Belknap,
R. Howell,
Chas. St. J. Vail,
John C. Hasbrouck.
The present membership of the Church is five hundred and twenty-eight.
Thursday, November 13th, 1884. 2:30 P.M ..
ANTHEM.
The Rev. J. O. Denniston, of Newburgh, read the Ninetieth Psalm. After which the Rev. Dr. Irving Magee, of Rondout, led the congre- gation in prayer, as follows :
O God, Father of mankind, Creator, Benefactor: We come to Thee. Thou art enthroned in might, which is Thy presence ; but Thou art likewise enthroned in love, which also is Thine. Thou dost rule the universe, but Thou dost also love it, and Thou dost love Thy children, which we who love Thee are. We bow before Thee. We acknowledge Thine infinite goodness ; may we know Thy presence by Thy blessing.
Robert Sterling,
66
1849.
George H. Clark,
1856. 66
A. S. Cassedy,
66
John R. Gorham,
66
Samuel W. Miller,
1874.
George Clark,
Robert Walsh,
1880.
Jirah Stearns,
Stephen King,
66
Charles Root,
66
66
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We praise Thee for those mercies which are over all the works of Thy hands, but especially do we thank Thee for that unspeakable mystery of love which has wrought the redemption of the world through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Praise be unto Thee, O Father of an infinite majesty, that when darkness cov- ered the earth Thou didst mercifully look with compassion upon Thy lost chil- dren and didst prove Thy love by sending unto them the Light of the World that they might see the way that leadeth unto eternal life. Praise be unto Thee that through His mediation and Gospel, pardon and rest and everlasting blessedness are offered unto the sinful and the lost, and that, all who will come unto Thee shall find rest unto their souls. Praise be unto Thee, that according to Thy gracious purpose, Thou didst establish Thy Church in the world to keep, protect and pro- claim Thy words of Life, that it might be as manna to the hungry souls that wander in the deserts of the world, and, being weary, seek for rest ; and, that whosoever may eat thereof shall be satisfied. Praise be unto Thee for that divine grace, which is the hope of the world, and which is given so freely that none who trust in the sweet promises of Thy Gospel shall ever be lost. Oh ! who can express the great- ness of Thy compassion, or worthily thank Thee for our redemption and happiness !
We bless Thy name that it pleased Thee to establish this church, which has stood as a light and blessing, in the midst of the generations that have existed here for so many years. We thank Thee for its long and beautiful history, for its life, and acts of beneficence, and all its good works, which give us such a sure hope of a long and blessed career of usefulness in the years to come.
We thank Thee for the lives of the good inen and women that have adorned by their holy walk and conversation the practice of a pure religion ; who in the spirit of the gospel have knelt at this altar in the beauty of holiness ; v. ho walked in Thy fear while they lived and died in the peaceful hope of a blessed immortality.
We thank Thee for the holy inen, who, during the years that are past, stood in this consecrated place to proclaim the sweet gospel of Christ unto the sad and the sinful. We thank Thee for the heavenly consolations they were able to bring to those who were bereaved of their earthly love and were broken in heart ; that they were able to lead the weary to repose in Thy bosoin and find rest. O good, O faith- ful Shepherd of the sheep: We thank Thee that through them the sinful and the wandering found their way back to Christ and forgiveness, and that the deso- late found hope. We thank Thee for the sweet influence of their lives which still lingers in this place made sacred by their presence. Grant Thy blessing so that we who now live inay gather into our lives the inspiration of their good deeds and beautiful example.
Be pleased, O God of mercy, to add grace to grace. Help us to contemplate the event which we this day commemorate with those affections and holy desires which shall make the future to be as the past. Pour into our hearts that gratitude which shall prompt the most ardent devotion to Thy service and render our whole lives a continued act of thankfulness and love. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to be prseent with those who hereafter shall gather in this place to honor Thy great namie, to preach Thy word, to utter Thy praise, and for the performance of all holy offices ; accept, O Lord, this service at their hands, and bless it in that way which shall tend most to Thy glory and the furtherance of their happiness, both temporal and spiritual, as shall be according to Thy will. Regard the supplication of Thy servants, and grant that whosoever shall here be dedicated to Thee in holy baptisin may so re- ceive the deeds of heavenly grace, that they may come safely to Thine everlasting Kingdom.
Grant that whosoever shall receive in this place the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of Christ may receive all the benefits of His most precious suffer- ings and death and be received into the blessed company of thine elect in heaven.
Grant, O Lord, that whensoever the sorrowful shall bow at this altar, they may receive heavenly consolations, that their souls may be healed by the balm which Thou alone canst supply ; and that they may rest from all their trouble in that eternal love which shall be unto them as heaven, because of the peace which Thou givest.
Grant that they who are fretted by the cares of the world may find the holy calm of the sanctuary sweet and refreshing unto thein, being weary, and thus learn to know and rejoice in Thy helpful goodness. May those who are broken by sorrow and look with tearful eyes into the unrestoring grave, be able to see an angel sit- ting at the door of the sepulchre who shall say : "He is not here, he is risen," and so be comforted. Let Thy hand, O gentle Comforter, dry the mourner's tears.
Graciously behold and bless with Thy favor Thy servant whom Thou hast ap-
15
pointed at this time to minister at this altar. Speak unto Thy servant that he may receive into his soul from heaven those things which Thou will have him speak unto Thy people here; give him a wisdom that is more than his human understand- ing, that the gracious words of his lips inay be as the gospels of Jesus unto these hearts. O blessed Fountain of fresh and ever-living waters, pour forth Thy life through him whom Thou hast made life's channel to this people, that they, receiv ing his message, may live in Thee. O let not his burden be greater than he can bear. Because of Thy presence may he be sufficient for every duty and strong for all burdens. Make him lovely by Thy love. By Thy softening yet strengthening grace make him adequate to the needs of all hearts, and steadfast in all good. In those heavy hours, when he is ready to sink, reach forth Thy hand to him and sus- tain him with hope. When he shall want most what Thou alone canst give, give Thyself to him. Having Thee he can never be poor. And when at last his eyes shall grow dim, let the light of lieaven shine into them that at evening time it inay be light.
Bless all the world, O Lord, and hasten the day of Thy coming, that all the earth may rejoice in Thee.
Now make glad this hour. Come into this place of Thy love. Fill these hearts with gladness and peace. Accept the praises that shall arise unto Thee. O Light of the sanctuary, fill this place with the beauty of Thy presence, and abide here as its glory forever more. 'Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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