USA > New York > Tompkins County > Ithaca > History of the First Presbyterian church of Ithaca, New York, during one hundred years : the anniversary exercises, January twenty-first to twenty-fourth, 1904 > Part 6
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"Dr. Wisner was not perfect. In his zeal, according to his own knowledge, he sometimes spoke words that only rankled and were not forgotten or forgiven. He did not always dis- criminate between the essential and the non-essential, but 'to err is human,' and he was human. To those who knew him best he was the beloved man of God.
"One of my last recollections of him before he left Ithaca to spend his closing days with his
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
son, is at the close of the mid-week meeting for prayer in the chapel recently removed. He lingered a little after the people and walked alone through the room, his eyes cast down, a musing half smile on his face, singing softly to himself one of the songs of Zion, as a mother might croon to her sleeping child. And so he passed from us to a few waiting days, and then to the presence where he should hear : 'Well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'"
Another member of our Church, whose manifold and efficient service has been a source of blessing here for many years, and whose teaching is still sought with eagerness in our Sunday School, gives this picture of Church life in the older day :
" Well do I remember the old church, quaint and without decoration, which in winter was heated by large box stoves, filled with wood which needed no splitting. The pipes of these ran the whole length of the building, and in very cold weather were not sufficient to give the needed warmth ; and so it was the custom of some to carry the little footstoves, filled with coals, of one of which I am the possessor. An incident comes to my mind, how my good mother saved the church of her love from being destroyed. In those days, it was called the Brimstone Church by some who did not admire Father Wisner's strong preaching. One night it was set on fire by a supposed enemy. It occurred about midnight, and it so happened, my mother being awake, from her window saw the light, gave the alarm, and the church was saved, much to the disgust of some who said 'they wished Mrs. Deacon E- had staid in bed that night.' Well do I remember the Fast Days Father Wisner would appoint as preparation for a revival, and, to us children, it was a matter of surprise and wonder, how father and mother could go all day long with only a cracker and a cup of tea ; from nine in the morning until nine at night, with but slight interruption, those meetings would be held, in the old 'Session House ; ' and well can I recall the anxious pleadings at the throne of grace, which came from the lips and hearts of those dear old men. I have no recollection of any long pauses, which seem to be the custom of our day, excepting when a short time was given for silent prayer. Father Wisner's favorite text was : 'Brethren, it is my heart's desire and prayer to God, that Israel might be saved.' So strict were the children kept in those days, it was thought almost a sin were they seen on the street of a Sunday,-only on their way to Church or Sunday School. I well remember the sound lecture my elder brother received because, on the sly, he ventured out for a walk on the Sabbath Day. In fact, the day was very long to us little ones, and we were only too glad to welcome bed-time and be tucked away in our trundle-beds. It was to me a great delight when, by promising to be very good, I was per- mitted with other of my mates, to occasionally sit in the gallery of the old church, back of the singers, and watch each of them, with hand extended, beating time, with John Dix their leader. Those old Fugue tunes,-how dear father loved them! I wonder if they are singing them now in heaven?"
Yes, we wonder ! With the tearing down of the old Meeting House the older generation and their strict and quaint, sincere and simple ways pass. The elder Mckinneys and McChains, Dr. Hayt and Sheriff Townley, Timo- thy S. Williams and Harley Lord, Deacon Herrick and many others, once the leaders in the work of the Church, were gone. Some of their associ- ates of course lived on into the new chapter in the new building; such as Deacon Esty and Deacon Luce, Deacon Leonard and Deacon Hazen, Judge Walbridge and George Beers and others. But the activity in the new edifice was destined to have a different note henceforth.
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THE SECOND EDIFICE,-1853-1899
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
From November, 1849, to May, 1850, Rev. Seldon Haynes preached as a supply. Then Rev. William Neil McHarg was called as the next Pastor ; he began his work in the autumn of 1850, and was installed December 10th. Mr. McHarg was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1816; he graduated from Union College in 1838, and from Yale Theological Seminary in 1841 ; was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Albany in 1841 ; preached in Ridgebury, Conn., one year ; was ordained by the Presbytery of Niagara in 1842, at the same time being installed in his first pastorate at Albion, N. Y., where he remained until called to Ithaca in 1850. After leaving Ithaca, he was Pastor at Lyons, N. Y., 1857-62 ; filled the Bates Chair of Latin in Hamil- ton College, 1862-69; then moved to Kansas in hope of regaining health, in which quest he was most successful. He became Pastor of the Presby- terian Church of Blue Rapids, Kansas, and served that congregation con- tinuously for seventeen years; happy, healthful years to him and useful, spiritually-enriching years to them. A few years ago he retired from active service, and now resides in Pueblo, Colorado. Replying to our invitation to be present and to take part in this centennial anniversary, he writes :
" It filled us with great pleasure to learn that we were honored with an invitation to attend the coming Centennial of that dear Church, with which we once stood in most important con- nection. It was exceedingly gratifying to know that, after so long a period as half a century, we should have been so affectionately remembered by the surviving friends in your present con- gregation. We most sincerely thank them for their invitation, as well yourself for yours, and the Church Session for theirs. As to complying with so kindly and friendly a proposal, it would indeed be most pleasant for all parties concerned that we should visit your people, and enjoy the mutual interchange of personal converse and agreeable reminiscences of olden time. Yet a decisive hindrance opposes in the advanced age at which we have arrived. On the Ist of October, I completed my eighty-seventh year ; and Mrs. McHarg is my junior by ten years. The fatigue of so long a journey and the excitement of visiting, with attending the exercises, would be beyond our physical power,-although we enjoy excellent health. Hence we must limit ourselves to this mode of communing with you, very much to our regret. We sometimes in thought review our former residence and the scenes of our several homes, recalling many names once familiar to us. I have recorded hundreds of such names in Albion, Lyons and Ithaca, in a volume which still lies on my desk ; and the names identify the persons,-such a multitude long since gone to their reward of faithful service. I have always kept sight of the growth, prosperity and usefulness of your excellent congregation ; and such review has always given me great pleasure and satisfaction at its still, as of yore, abounding in the work of the Lord. The erection of your new edifice is also a source of my highest gratification, as a proof of the increased population of your beautiful city and the demand, incidental to the presence of your noble University with its numerous membership. And now, my beloved brother in the Lord, I bid you God speed in your holy calling ; and to the surviving few of 1857, we unitedly send a loving remembrance,-with the request that they sometimes remember us at the throne of grace. Yours very friendly,
W. N. MCHARG."
Mr. McHarg's expression of gratification at the erection of this new edifice means much when it is remembered that it was during his pastorate here
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that the second edifice, (but recently razed to give place to this edifice), was erected. The building of that structure was the largest undertaking and one of the most enduring works of his pastorate.
July 28th, 1851, in the Trustees' minutes, mention is made of the dilapi- dated and insufficient condition of the house of worship, and of a resolution offered, agreeing to subscribe and pay to the Trustees a sufficient amount to enable them to raise the sum of $16,000 to build a new church edifice. This resolution was laid on the table and at an adjourned meeting held August 18, 1851, the Trustees reported that the cost to repair their present house of worship would be about $3,500, and meeting adjourned to Sept. Ist, 1851, at which time it was resolved to raise a subscription of $12,000 before the new house was commenced. At a congregational meeting held March 7th, 1853, it was
" Resolved, that the expense of the new church be $15,000 and that the Trustees be instructed to adopt that sum as the basis of subscription, and that when the church is built the pews be sold at auction and the proceeds divided among the subscribers of the fund for building."
At a meeting August 30th, 1853, designs made by James Renwick,* of New York, were adopted for the new church, and the bid of John and Lucas V. Maurice to build it for $15,000 was accepted, they to have the materials in the old building and to remove it at their expense. The Building Committee were Wm. R. Humphrey, Henry W. Sage, B. L. Johnson. At a meeting of the Trustees, Sept. 2nd, 1853, the building contract was signed and notice issued that the contractors were to have possession of the old building on the 7th. Direction was given to pay the cost of the plans, $175.88, March 10th, 1854. At a meeting of the congregation Oct. 17th, 1854, it was " resolved, that the Trustees be authorized to raise $2,000 by subscription for the purpose of furnishing, lighting and warming the church."
The subscription list for the building of this church contained one $2,000 subscription, four of $1,000, and four of $500, and the balance was made up of smaller items. January 15th, 1855, a congregational meeting voted-
" Resolved, that the Trustees, after selecting a sufficient number of seats for the use of the minister and the poor of the Church, affix to each of the remaining pews a price not to exceed $25 or below $7 for the annual rent, which total amount shall constitute the income of the Church and be sufficient to defray all the expense of the minister's salary, contingent and poor funds, or any other expense which could properly come under the head of Church expenses ; also to con- stitute a sinking fund to cover any loss which might accrue by reason of non-renting of all the pews, or the failure of any individuals to pay after renting as above. The choice of the seats shall be offered at auction to the persons offering the highest premium who thereafter shall be entitled to hold such seats as long as they please, subject only to the annual sum affixed by the Trustees, which shall be paid quarterly in advance." It was also
* He was the architect of Calvary Church ( Fourth Avenue), of Grace Church, and of St. Pat- rick's Cathedral in New York City, and of some of the institutional buildings on "the Island." "He was a genial man, and much travelled."
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
" Resolved, that if at any future time the expenses of the congregation shall increase, the Trus- tees shall be authorized by a vote of a majority of the pew holders to add pro-rata a percent- age upon the original sum, which shall meet the full liability thus incurred."
The records of the village of Ithaca show an agreement for the care of the Park, etc., on the part of the village with the Church, under date April 25th, 1856, which was formally accepted by the village July 17th, 1856, and is recorded on the village records at page 131, book C.
At a congregational meeting in June, 1857, assent was given to the with- drawal of the Pastor, Rev. W. N. McHarg, on account of failing health.
Rev. Timothy Dwight Hunt was installed Pastor on January 13th, 1858, having preached here the four months previous. He remained until October, 1859. His was therefore the shortest pastorate in our history ; but it was an active one, expressing the spirit of Mr. Hunt, who, until his death, was of a most energetic temperament. It was a time of wide and profound religious interest all over the land, and this Church shared in the blessing. In 1858 forty persons united on confession of faith in Christ. That year a new Manual was issued ; it showed an enrollment of 327 members.
Mr. Hunt was born in Rochester in 1821 ; he graduated from Yale Col- lege in 1840; from Auburn Theological Seminary in 1843; he was ordained by Genesee Presbytery at Perry, N. Y., September, 1843. He then sailed for the Sandwich Islands, as a Missionary under the appointment of the American Board. Arriving at Honolulu, he became the Pastor of the American Church there, serving them for five years. During this time he visited all the mission stations, gaining first-hand information which he afterwards used in lectures in San Francisco, and later in a small published volume of the same, entitled : The Past and Present of the Sandwich Islands. This little book is still a most valuable source of information re- garding the primitive condition of the islanders and the early work of Christian Missionaries among them. In the light of their more recent history, these concluding paragraphs are of especial interest :
"Time only, and freedom from foreign interruption, are wanted to complete what has been so well begun. The right agencies are at work. Only let them continue generation after generation, and by the uniform laws of human improvement, they will effect the complete redemption of the Island races. But we are an impatient people. We expect a people to be born and matured in a day. Nothing could be more unreasonable. We plant an acorn, and expect to sit under its branches and behold ripe fruit within a year ! How many generations passed away before the Britons grew to giant greatness. All history teaches that we must wait patiently the slow operation of nature's laws. Had travellers borne this in mind, so many of them would not have pronounced the Mission work a failure. With more knowledge of what the people were and are, they would have reported it, what it is in fact, A PROGRESSIVE TRIUMPH."
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Upon the discovery of gold in California, the excitement of many Ameri- cans in the islands was like that here in the east. Nearly all Mr. Hunt's congregation in Honolulu hastily took ship to the new Eldorado; at the last moment they persuaded him to accompany them, and thus it happened that he was the first Protestant minister in California. He organized the first Sunday School and the first Church, moderated the first Presbytery, edited the first religious paper, and was for two years Home Mission Secretary for the Pacific coast. He remained there, doing pioneer service, until 1857, when he came east and accepted the call of this Church to be its Pastor. At his installation here, the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. G. W. Heacock, then at the height of his influence in Buffalo; the charge to the Pastor was given by Dr. Wisner, and the charge to the people by Mr. McHarg, two former Pastors thus sanctioning this " apostolic succession."
The first printed annual report appears to have been issued January Ist, 1858, and shows benevolent contributions to the amount of $1532.58 for the preceding year. On June 22nd, 1858, a committee was appointed to procure a new bell to weigh 1500 lbs., and a subscription of $350 was raised for that pur- pose. The Church has been summoned by three bells during its history.
It is related that once when Mr. Hunt was preaching in his animated way on the slavery issue, he made some statement which did not meet with the approval of an equally positive parishioner and Trustee, who called out- " Prove it ! prove it !" to the startled surprise of the congregation.
During this time, the women's prayer meetings were maintained with great interest and profit ; often as many as forty being present.
After leaving Ithaca he was, successively, Pastor of Churches in Waterville, N. Y., 1859-65; in Niles, Michigan, 1865-71 ; in Nunda, N. Y., 1872-76; in Sodus, N. Y., 1876-79 ; and in Whitesboro, N. Y., where he retired from pastoral service, and where he died suddenly on Saturday morning, February 9th, and was buried in Waterville, N. Y., February 11th, 1895.
At a congregational meeting held January 12th, 1860, it was voted unani- mously to call Rev. David Torrey of Delhi, N. Y. He accepted the call and commenced his labors on the first day of March, 1860, and was installed Pastor, July 12th following. Mr. Torrey was born at Bethany, Pa., in 1818; he graduated from Amherst College in 1843 ; he studied theology at Andover and Union Theological Seminaries, graduating from the latter in 1846. Upon his ordination he became Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Delhi, where he served until 1860, when he came here.
In 1861 there were 351 members enrolled. Among the accessions during this pastorate, there were a large number of young people who to-day are some of the most efficient workers in this Church.
2. Dorry.
Jours. Very truly Theodor F- White
Memur Sincert a. S. Fiske.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
In 1861, releases of the pew rights were secured from all pew owners, and the system of annual auction of pews, with quarterly rentals, was adopted. At a meeting of the Trustees, held March 25, 1863, to consider the matter of building a new Lecture and Sabbath School room, a committee was ap- pointed to solicit subscriptions and procure the plan. Later, the committee reported that $4,000 had been subscribed, and the Trustees authorized the committee to erect the building in accordance with plans submitted by architect F. H. Moore, the committee being George McChain, Moses R. Barnard, and S. B. Sherwood. This brick chapel was first occupied in Feb- ruary, 1864. It was enlarged in 1876, and, until torn down in 1899 to give place to the present edifice, was the home of the varied activities of the Church. Here, in addition to its use on Sundays, were the prayer meetings held; also the Women's Missionary Society and Dorcas meetings ; the Christian Endeavor and the Boys' Brigade; and here were held the many social gatherings which were and are a delightful feature of our Church life. In 1864 there was still a deficit on the building account and an old Church debt as well. The Trustees were authorized to borrow $4,000 more, giving the note of the Church therefor, and Messrs. Charles E. Hardy and Ezra Cornell were appointed to solicit subscriptions to pay this debt, which, in due time, was accomplished.
It was during this pastorate that the Cornell Library was founded, by the gift of Mr. Ezra Cornell. Dr. Torrey was a member of its first Board of Trustees, and was active in promoting its interests. Through all the years since then, members of this Church and congregation have rendered large and efficient service on the Board of this valued institution.
Dr. Torrey resigned his pastoral charge of this Church in May, 1864, and, after preaching for two years in Ann Arbor, Michigan, travelled extensively in Egypt and Palestine. Upon his return to this country, in December, 1869, he began his pastorate at Cazenovia, N. Y., where he resided until his death, September, 29th, 1894. At the time of his resignation of his Ithaca charge, Dr. Torrey was Stated Clerk of the Ithaca Presbytery. By that body, as by this Church, appropriate and appreciative resolutions were adopted expressive of the high esteem in which he was held, and the sense of great loss at his departure. Then, and subsequently for many years, he was a faithful and useful member of the Board of Commissioners of Auburn Theo- logical Seminary. His fine face, with its hoary " crown of glory," his kind and sincere interest in the students, his courteous and gentlemanly manner at the various functions of the anniversary week each year, are recalled with great pleasure.
Dr. Torrey was a lovable man ; his influence when Pastor here, as well
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
as that of his good wife, was such as to win young and old for the best things. It was fitting, therefore, that at his death a generation later, this action should have been taken by the Session (October 17th, 1894) :-
"WHEREAS, it has pleased the great Head of the Church to receive to Himself, in the fulness of years and honors, the Rev. David Torrey, D.D., a former and beloved Pastor of this Church, Be it Resolved, that we put on record the high appreciation in which this congregation holds his abilities, devotion and success in the ministry of Jesus Christ, the deep affection with which his memory is cherished among us, and the profound sympathy with which we regard the afflic- tion of his widow, and the circle of his immediate kindred ; while we rejoice with them in the rounded record of a noble character and life, and in the glorious hopes of the gospel grace in which he lived and died."
At a meeting of the congregation in September, 1865, Rev. Theodore F. White, of Delhi, N. Y., was called as Pastor. He commenced his services in November, and was installed January 9th, 1866. Dr. White was born in New York city in 1830; graduated from New York University in 1849, and from Union Theological Seminary in 1853 ; preached at Granville, N. Y., Mendham, N. J., Church of the Puritans, N. Y. city, and at Delhi, N. Y. Upon his resignation here in 1877, he went to Summit, N. J., becoming Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church there, and continuing in that rela- tionship until 1903 when he resigned liis charge and was made Pastor Emeritus, which position he still holds.
Among the many interesting items of record during the pastorate of Dr. White may be mentioned ;- repairs on the parsonage in 1866 and its sale in 1870, "the Pastor having concluded to remove to the house of Dr. Wisner " (on the site of the Cornell Infirmary). This sale was made April 13th, 1870, for $5,200, the purchaser being Mr. Samuel R. Sherwood. At the time of erecting the second edifice, a heavy wooden fence had been built about the Park ; this was necessary in order to keep out the many cows which roamed the streets at will; the fence was removed in 1873, the cows being allowed to roam no more.
In August, 1868, upon the departure of Judge Walbridge and family, so long and so efficiently identified with the active work of this Church, resolu- tions of affection and Godspeed were adopted. Judge Walbridge had been Supt. of the Sunday School 1830-31, and 1841-44; he was an Elder from 1830 until his departure from Ithaca. His daughters were especially efficient teachers in our Sunday School, and one daughter, Mrs. Gulick, went as a Missionary to Spain.
After long previous discussion, on, September 20th, 1869, the rotary system of eldership was unanimously adopted ; it is still continued. In 1870, the Session appointed two important committees ; one, " to see the new faces
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
that come to church ; " the other, " to look to new comers to town." The same year, in commemoration of the Reunion of the Old and New School branches of the Presbyterian Church, a Memorial Fund was raised through- out the denomination. The gift of this Church, amounting to $2,193.25 was devoted to Maryville and Elmira Colleges. In 1870, too, for the first time, the female members of the Church were accorded the right of voting for Elders and Deacons ; this after much discussion by the Session and in meet- ing of the male members, and, apparently, not with the hearty concurrence of the Pastor. The discussion was on the granting of equal suffrage to the women in all Church matters, including the election of a Pastor. A number of motions were made, amended, put and lost. Finally, Mr. John Miller offered a substitute motion in these words :
" Resolved, That in all elections of Elders and Deacons, female members of this Church as well as male members shall be entitled to vote."
And "this resolution being voted on, it was declared carried."
Just when the women began to exercise full suffrage in Church and con- gregational affairs, (the latter being subject to State statutes), is not re- corded ; in these days, they poll the largest vote !
In 1871, there is record that-"Our very dear aud highly esteemed brother, Elder William P. Luce, departed this life April 13th, 1871." He had been an Elder since 1830.
In June, 1871, an account is given of an Elders' Meeting being held in Seneca Falls and attended by laymen from a wide section ; Elders Clark and Seymour represented this Church. A Missionary Congress was held in Geneva in 1873, and Elder and Mrs. Josiah B. Williams were delegates from this Church.
At the Reunion, when questions of readjustment of Presbyterial and Synodical boundaries came up, the Session took action unfavorable to the absorption of the Synod of Geneva into the greater Synod of New York. One of the last meetings of the Synod of Geneva was held in Ithaca.
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