USA > New York > Dutchess County > Pine Plains > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 19
USA > New York > Dutchess County > North East > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 19
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
185
THE CHURCHES.
plete and perfect church. It was evident that he was a Presbyterian well dyed, and the majority of his hearers were disappointed in the drift of his discourse. He removed all doubt, however, in one regard. The building was no longer a "union meeting house," and if not dedicated to God, it was to Presbyterianism. Perhaps he was not far out of the way after all. He preached again in the evening. taking his text from Ephesians, iii, 14: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father." Prayer was his theme. "Prayers are photographs of men's lives. To know Paul, study his prayers, and so of all men." His discourse was able, interesting, full of apt Illus- trations, and to the point. In the afternoon he talked, in the evening preached. In the afternoon a Presbyterian, in the evening an Evangelist. In the afternoon a sectarian, in the evening a liberal, warm-hearted Chris- tian. In the afternoon he stood with the hierarchy. in the evening he min- gled with the common people. In the afternoon he was embassador pleni- potentiary from the Presbyterian government, in the evening he was Doc- tor Bevan. He spoke with energy, his instruction was profitable, the large audience was attentive and left the church with commendations. Mr. Edward Huntting was present at this dedication, and to my knowledge the only one who was present also at the dedication of the old "Union" church in 1816, by Rev Mr. Clark. The repairs and rebuilding of 1879 made the church building as it is now (1896) except the small addition 12 x 18 to the north end of the lecture room which was built in 1894.
PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY ECCLESIASTICAL.
The organization of a Presbyterian society in this village by Rev. Robert G. Armstrong in 1820 or '21 was noticed incidentally under the head of the "Union Meeting House." There is no record to my knowi- edge of this organization, and if there had been the organization was lost or broken during the ten or twelve years succeeding it, when Rev. William N. Sayre came in 1833. The trustees of the meeting house society at that time by classes were, first class, Adam Strever, Aaron E. Winchell; sec- ond class, Reuben W. Bostwick, Cornelius Allerton ; third class, Henry Strever, Epaphroditus Taylor. The Rev. Augustus Wackerhagen, a Lu- theran minister from Germantown, commenced preaching here this year or near it, by appointment, one Sabbath in every month, and continued in this manner with few omissions eighteen years.
June 4, 1833, William N. Sayre and Sarah A. Marshall, daughter of John Marshall, of Salt Point, were married, and very soon after he was ordained to preach by the North River Presbytery at their session at Ame- nia. While there he made an appointment to preach at North East Cen- ter, the last Sabbath in June, and left Amenia to visit his parents at Rensse- laerville, Albany Co On his return to fill the appointment at North East Center, he stopped at the now Stissing House, then kept by Henry C. Meyers. He learned there was no stated preaching here, was introduced to Aaron E. Winchell, one of the trustees, and made an appointment to
186
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
preach the third Sabbath in June of that year, He filled the appointment. taking I. Corinthians, iii, 13: "Every man's work shall be made manifest, and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." This was his first sermon in Pine Plains. He was then living at Pleasant Valley. Not long after Mr. Allen Thompson, of Pine Plains, called upon him at Pleas- ant Valley, requesting him to make another appointment at Pine Plains as he did not hear him. Mr. Sayre made and filled another appointment. In August following Mr. Sayre, having recovered from a severe and dangerous sickness at his sister's in the town of Washington, attended a camp meeting on the west side of Stissing Mountain. He met Mr. Thompson before going home, and by invitation spent the night with him. Before leaving the next morning he made an appointment at Pine Plains the first Sabbath in September, 1833. This appointment he fulfilled, when he preached the first sermon of his unbroken pastorate of fifty years succeeding. His text was Ps. ciii, 19: "The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom ruleth over all." The theme was "Divine Moral Govern. ment."
This was deemed missionary ground by the Presbytery for Presbyte- rian work. It is not possible from this distance to realize nor easy to im- agine a more mixed and divided community in church matters. Doctrinal points were foremost. Christian charity there was little unless the eyes and ears were closed, and that was impossible. The three Pine Plains church societies, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian, were each in its in- fancy er about to be born, and the evil tongue of sectarianism and gossip was withont restraint to gain one or prejudice another, thereby to swell its respective membership. They had been educated to this by the experience of the previous sixteen years in the union church association, and experi- ence is not easily forgotten whether good or ill, in this case more ill than good. When he came the church bnikling was under quarternary govern- ment, thus giving him only one Sabbath a month unless omissions occurred by other pastors. The arrangement was a bad one for all in that it was det- rimental to the unity and harmony in doctrine essential to the prosperity of every church. Mr. Sayre was the only minister of the four denomina- tions living on the ground, and this, too, gave an imaginary cause for sus- picion and bitterness against him. In it all the poisoned tongue of calum- ny which recoils upon itself was busy, and the good that might have been done to each and by each was nentralized. A less persevering and resolute man than he would have been discouraged and gone to a more peaceful field. But he was enabled to endure the trials of these first years of his. ministry, and lived to see the day of unity and peace. It is an unpleasant chapter. The memories of the actors now deceased were blotted at their burial, and the memories of the few now hving rejoice that those bitter days have passed.
At the annual meeting of the meeting house society in 1836, Aaron E.
187
THE CHURCHES
Winchell resigned as trustee and clerk, and ten years passed without an election of trustees. Meanwhile the terms of all the classes of trustees had expired. May 17, 1847, the next meeting for the election of trustees was; held, Levi Best and Ezra B. Hoag the presiding officers. The trustees elect- ed were, first class, William Eno, Anthony Hoffman; second class, Johir A. Thompson, Ezra B. Hoag; third class, Hiram Wilson, Reuben W. Bost- wick. E. Taylor was appointed clerk. Twelve days later (May 29, 1847); a meeting of the trustees was held at the store of Reuben W. Bostwick, Mr. Bostwick being chosen chairman. Ezra B. Hoag offered this resolu- tion :
"Resolved that no minister of any denomination shall preach in the Pine Plains meeting house without the consent of the trustees or a majority of them first had and obtained."
Mr. Hoag then offered this resolution, which was carried :
"Resolved that the Rev. William N. Sayre occupy the pulpit of the Pine Plains meeting house statedly every Sabbath and that he be considered the regular minister of the church congregation or society attending di- vine worship in said church."
Mr. Eno said "he had heard that Rev. Augustus Wackerhagen had made an appointment for the 4th Sabbath in June, next," and made a mo- tion to this effect, which was carried. Mr. Anthony Hoffman made a mo- tion, which was carried, that Mr. Wackerhagen "be permitted to preach every 4th Sabbath in each month in case he chose to make the appoint- ment." As Mr. Wackerhagen preached but a very few times after this, the church legally was left to Mr. Sayre as the stated and regular minister. and thereby became a Presbyterian church from the date of these resolu- tions, May 29, 1847. The church had indeed become Presbyterian virtual- ly before this meeting, for the Baptists and Methodists had each a church and society in the village, and the German Reformed had gone to the " Veddar church," and the Episcopalians were about to nucleate in Bethel church.
The first organization of the Presbyterian society under Rev. Wm. N. Sayre was May 24, 1834, consisting of seven members, Elijah B. Northrop, John A. Turck, Rhoda Conch, Salome Husted, Johanna Northrop, Clarissa Lillie and Chloe Sutherland. Elijah B. Northrop was made elder, which office he held until his death. The church record gives the growth and condition of the society from this time to the present. But in passing I notice a summary of the status of the church taken from a printed sermon preached by Mr. Sayre August 31, 1873, on the anniversary of his forty years' ministry. "There have been added since 1833, 240; in 1836, 19, in 1839, 40, in 1843, 15, in 1850, 8, in 1856, 13, in 1859, 16, in 1864, 32, in 1867, 12. Of these numbers 160 were added in seasons of revival. The remain- ing 80 were received in numbers from one to four scattered along through the whole period of my ministry. Of these 160 have deceased or removed from within our bounds, leaving ninety resident members. I have bap-
1
188
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS
tised 100 adults and 43 infants." Mr. Sayre ten years later preached his fiftieth anniversary sermon when he resigned. There were then about 100 members. The sermon was preached Sunday, June 24, 1883, and the church was filled by the citizens of Pine Plains and adjacent towns in this county and Columbia. The other churches in the village held no service, their pastors and congregations uniting with him and his people in cele- brating this event. The service commenced by the choir chanting "As the hart panteth for the water brooks." Mr. Sayre made the invocation, the choir and congregation sang "Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow," and the pastor and people repeated the Apostles' Creed. The scripture lesson was read by Mr. Sayre, the choir sang the hymn "Let Zion's Watch- men all Awake," and prayer was offered by Rev. J. W. Selleck, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. The hymn, "Rock of Ages," was sung by the choir, after which Mr. Sayre announced his text.
CHAPTER XV.
SEMI CENTENNIAL SERMON OF REV. WILLIAM N. SAYRE.
Acts 20: 18: Ye know from the first day that I came unto you, after- what manner I have been with you at all seasons.
Rarely does the instance occur in which a pastor is called to occupy the. position which I do to day; for few, indeed, are the instances in which one of Christ's Under Shepherds has the oversight, and the privilege of preaching the Gospel to one people for half a century.
Having passed over the various stages of a fifty years' pastorate with this church and congregation, I fancy myself as occupying a high eleva- tion at the close of my stated ministry, and looking back over fifty years. past, refreshing my memory and yours with such occurrences and changes as have characterized and marked that period.
In the month of June in the year of our Lord 1833, I was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of North River at Ameniaville. I was solicited to make an appointment to supply the pulpit of the church at North East Center, as I recollect, the third Sabbath in June I made such an appointment, but before the day came to fulfill it, I visited my early home in the town of Rensselaerville, Albany County, some fifty milesfrom North East Center. In going to that place I had to pass through the village of Pine Plains. Calling at the Meyer's Hotel I was informed that there was no stated preaching in the village and was requested to make an appoint- ment to preach to the people. To the request I assented and an appointment was made which I fulfilled, as I now recollect, the last Sabbath in June. I supplied the pulpit again one Sabbath in August, and again the first Sab- bath in September, from which time to the present day, I have had the oversight of this church and congregation as its pastor. Mark the Provi- dence of God in directing me to my future field of labor, for had I not made an appointment to preach at North East Center, or had I not passed through this village in reaching that appointment or had I not called at the Public House on my way, the whole course of my life would doubtless have been otherwise than it has been.
When I commenced my ministry here in the year 1833, the church building was in a very different condition from what you see it to be in to- day. It had been painted, but after sixteen years but little of that paint remained. There was a high fence in front of the church, in a very dilap- idated condition. There were two small box stoves, in the front end of the church, the pipes going out of the window, for the heating of the build ing.
You may well suppose that very little of that heat on a cold Sabbath
REV. WILLIAM N. SAYRE.
191
THE CHURCHES.
day ever reached the pulpit sufficiently to render it a comfortable place. The pulpit was reached by a flight of stairs of some ten steps at least, there- by placing the preacher in a very elevated position. If at no other time, the people on the Sabbath had occasion to "look up" to him; for only in looking up could they see him. Such was the condition of the church building in 1833.
During the closing years of my ministry it has been rebuilt, sixteen feet added to the audience room, with a convenient audience room in the rear, and both appropriately furnished and paid for, with sheds for the ac- commodation of teams-a manifest improvement.
Before I came here in 1833, the whole town of Pine Plains and An- cram and most of Milan presented an uncultivated missionary field. The Sabbath came and passed as in other places, but no Sabbath bell called the people to assemble together for the public worship of God. In the village there was no resident pastor in either Pine Plains or Ancram, and I think not in Milan. In this large but uncultivated field there were but few pro- fessing Christians. Little attention was paid to the religious training of the young, by organized Sabbath schools. To-day we have four houses of public worship in this village, in three of which the word is statedly preached by three resident pastors. There is also in the town three other church buildings, one at Bethel, one at Pulver's Corner, and one on the hill west of the village. There are now four houses for public worship in the town of Aneram, in all of which there is stated preaching. There are two resident pastors, three organized churches, and several flourishing Sabbath schools. There has been a steady advance in the contributions for religious purposes, during the fifty years past.
Some three years after my coming here, a church building was erected, and a church organized at Pleasant Plains, some eighteen miles from Pine Plains in the town of Clinton. I supplied the pulpit of that church once in two weeks in the afternoon for two years. During these two years, I preached in protracted meetings for three weeks at a time on two several occasions. In both, the Lord working with me, the word was attended with gracious results. Some eighty members were added to the church du- ring those two years. The distance being so great, and the church having gained strength for self support, I ceased to supply them. A Pastor was settled, and the church of Pleasant Plains has been a good substantial or- ganization to the present time. On several occasions since, I have aided the pastors of that church in conducting religions services in seasons of revival. Some 150 members were added to that church as the result of my labors in these protracted religious services.
Soon after I entered upon my work in Pine Plains, there came to me a Macedonian call from the town of Ancram. Aneram is a large town, and as the land was mostly held under life leases, was in secular improvement and religions culture, fifty year behind the times.
192
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
Having no church building, and no resident minister, I was called into all parts of the town to officiate at weddings and funerals. I preached in their school houses (such as they were) and in their groves, and in a few years I succeeded in the erection of a church building. It was not long, however, before three other houses for religious worship were erected. I continued to supply a small congregation at Ancram in the afternoon of the Sabbath for some thirty years, until my health measurably failed, when the members of this church residing mi that town were organized into a separate church, and have sinee enjoyed the services of a stated supply. Thus, a mission field was cultivated, a house of worship erected, and a church organized without aid from any missionary board.
During the first twenty-five years of my ministry, I was frequently in- vited to assist my brethren in conducting protracted meetings. More than a whole year of weeks I was employed in such service. In Pleasant Valley, Pleasant Plains, Freedom Plains, New Paltz, Sharon, Red Hook, Ger- mantown, North East, and Amenia, I attended such meetings, and in some of them several times. Hundreds of members were added to the church- es as the fruits of such labor. In these seasons of revival, I witnessed the wonder-working power of God's Spirit, accompanying the Word of the Gospel in the conversion of souls. In the winter of 1837 and '38 I labored in protracted effort some eight weeks, three at Pleasant Plains, and five in this church. These services, with their attendant results, are among my most pleasant recollections.
There has been a steady and healthy growth of both church and con- gregation during the entire period of my ministry. While death and re- movals have every year depleted both church and congregation others have come in to more than fill their places, so that whereas, we had twelve at our first communion, some three hundred have since been added, about 80 of whom are still living within our bounds. At our communion the last Sabbath the body pews of the church were well filled with communi- cants. The congregation was never stronger, both in pecuniary resources and in numbers, than at the present time. My successor in this pulpit will find the state of things very different from what they were when I first. entered it.
My ministry has been anti-sectarian and Catholic. Though denomi- nationally a Presbyterian in my religious sentiments and preferences, I have never sought to proselyte others to my peculiar faith. I have accord- ed to others what I claim for myself, viz: liberty of conscience and the right of private judgment. I have also carefully avoided the agitation of such matters as in their very nature, were calculated to create parties in the congregation, and thus lead to alienation and division. I have never made any one thing a hobby in my preaching; nor have I either adopted or made war with the various issues that from time to time have had their advocates.
193
THE CHURCHES.
My policy has been rather to inculcate truth, to instill correct princi- ples into the public mind, than to be constantly warring with error. In my pulpit discourses I have aimed to give instruction in Bible truth. My preaching has not been what would be characterized as sensational. My philosophy is that the human will is to be reached and controlled through the emotions, and these are aronsed by addressing truth to the under- standing. I have therefore addressed my preaching largely to the reason and understanding of my hearers. I have also aimed at appropriateness, in my preaching; having respect to time, place, circumstances and occa- sion.
In my long pastorate of fifty years, I have always sought in my preach- ing to give variety, to expound Bible doctrine, to dwell upon differing phases of religious experience, and to press upon the consideration of my hearers the various duties of practical religion.
With reference to the subjects of Temperance and human slavery, I have pursued a course which upon the review, commends itself to my riper judgment. For the manner in which I have fulfilled my ministry, and for the improvement my people have made of it, both must give account at the bar of righteous judgment.
During the period of my ministry I have united in wedlock some 700 persons, and have conducted service at some 800 funerals. In very many cases the conjugal relation of those united in wedlock, has already been dissolved by the death of one or both of the parties. Among those who have been borne to their resting place in the grave, I name a few who were heads of families, and far advanced in years when I entered my ministry : Henry Hoffman, Jonathan Duel, Peter Ham, Stephen Eno, Henry Keifer, Reuben W. Bostwick, Epaphroditus Taylor, Allen Thompson, Dr. Cornelius Allerton, David Dakin, Elijah Northrop, Silas Harris, Cornelius Husted, Joshua Culver, John Righter, Henry C. Meyers, Cyrus Burnap, Justus Boothe, Amos Bryan, Adam A. Strever and William W. Pulver. There being no other minister for many years in either Pine Plains· or Ancram, I was called to officiate on funeral occasions very generally in both of these towns. In three farm houses upon adjoining farms in the town of An- cram, I have attended some 21 funerals.
Notice some changes that characterize the past fifty years in the bounds of this congregation. Three fourths of the houses in the village have been built since 1833. The greater part of those who composed the congregation during the first years of my ministry have either deceased, or removed to other parts. Very few who now compose the congregation were stated hearers even twenty-five years ago. Several new families have within a few years been added to the congregation. Of the heads of families in this village in 1883, other than Mrs. Sayre and myself, two only
194
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
survive, Mrs. Harriet Bostwick and Mr. Arba Platt. Every house has changed its occupant save that of Mrs. Bostwick and my own. Three churches have been erected in two of which the word is statedly preached by pastors, in the third occasionally.
In the place of a small burying ground of about an half acre in 1833, we now have our Evergreen Cemetery, containing some eight or nine acres, and already dotted over with the monuments of the departed. In few of the depositories of the dead are there as many and as valuable mon- uments, as in our own Evergreen Cemetery.
In 1833 we had no circulating library. We now have one consisting of many hundreds of volumes. We then had no railroads. Many here will remember the old Stage Coach, which conveyed passengers to Pough- keepsie one day and returned the next, and with a worn out and slow team. Now we have two railroads passing through the village, and a third coming within three miles of it. These several roads render it quite convenient for farmers to market their produce, and to the citizens they afford facilities for traveling purposes.
In 1833 we had no street lamps. With our shade trees, in the absence of the moonlight, our streets were very dark. Now, on a dark night, our streets are very well lighted by some forty or fifty lamps. In 1833, and for many years. there was no flagging upon our sidewalks: now we have sev- eral hundred rods of well-laid flagging, for the comfort and convenience of the citizens in traveling our streets.
Until within a few years we had no school of instruction higher than our common public school. Now we have the Seymour Smith Seminary, affording special facilities to the young for obtaining an education. Such are among the changes that have characterized the past fifty years. Look- ing back over a fifty year pastorate, I am duly conscious of many short- comings and imperfect service, and yet, there are many other things which I call to mind with a good degree of satisfaction. My entire ministry to one people has not been because no door of access to other pulpits has been open to me, for during the first twenty five years of my ministry I re- ceived some half dozen calls to other churches. These, all, were declined. and to-day finds me occupying the same pulpit, which I entered fifty years ago. This in part may be the result of advice received from an honored Father in the ministry, who had been the successful pastor of one church for twenty five years. Being in my family for about one week soon after I came here, he advised me not to be easily discouraged in my work, by reason of difficulties to be overcome, and not without due consideration, and for good cause, to abandon my chosen field of labor. Having entered this field when it was emphatically missionary ground: having organized a church and served as its pastor for half a century, I shall still take a deep and heartfelt interest in its future growth and prosperity. I preach no farewell sermon, for I propose to spend the remainder of my life with you,
195
THE CHURCHES.
and among you. I came here and planted my standard, as a young man, and behold ! fifty years have been added to my life and have passed away like the dream of the night, and I am now classed among the old men of this town. It is not at all probable that this church and congregation will very soon, if ever, have another pastor whose ministry shall be extended through half a century. Such long pastorates have become quite uncom- mon in these modern days. Nothing less than the spirit of prophecy can foresee what shall be the future history of this church, and who shall next occupy its pulpit, and how long he shall remain among you. In the rapid flight of time, another fifty years will soon have passed by, and most of us who are here assembled to-day will have been gathered to our fathers, and numbered with the silent dead.
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.