USA > New York > Wyoming County > Warsaw > History of the centennial celebration : Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York, June 28-July 2, 1903 : 1803-1903 > Part 4
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The first pastor was the Rev. Huntington Lyman, who became a nonagenarian.
The first Deacons were Ezra Walker (one of the origi- nal members of the church organized in 1808) and Peter
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Young. These two men, one as superintendent, the other as clerk, organized the first Sunday School in War- saw, in June, 1817, in a log school house, two miles west of the village. In 1819 it was transferred to the village and connected with the church. This Sunday School, at the time of the separation, came out with the new church, and therefore, the Sunday School connected with the Congregational Church of Warsaw today is the first Sunday School established in Warsaw.
Asa Mahan, the first president of Oberlin College was a pupil in this Sunday School.
Following the New England custom, a society was organized in connection with the church, April 21, 1840, of which J. H. Darling, Henry Woodward and Charles J. Judd were the first trustees, and Mr. Judd the first clerk.
The name adopted by the new church was simply " The Church of Warsaw", but four years later it assum- ed the name "Congregational"; with slight modifications the creed of the Chenango Presbytery of 1833 was adopt- ed. An examination of this creed reveals the fact that the present confession of faith, and covenant of the church, differ but slightly from it in matters of doctrine; although in 1858, under the supervision of the Rev. E. E. Williams, a revision was made for the purpose of giving it better and happier expression.
For about three years the church was associated with the Genesee County Societies, then for a few years it was unassociated, but since the first ten years it has been regularly associated with Congregational bodies.
The first ten years was a period of self-sacrificing toil, amid much opposition, but it would seem that the Lord's "Fear not little flock " was ever a source of strength for, and courage in duty, resulting in increased membership and material prosperity.
For a few months the little church worshipped in the small building, in which it was organized; but early in the spring of 1840, the lot now occupied was purchased ; a bee was made to remove the tall poplar trees, that had stood for years as stately sentinels, guarding the spot.
"Arise and Build" was the next admonition heeded,
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and soon the lecture room of the new building was ready for occupancy; it was used as a place of worship while as yet unplastered. The dimensions of the new building were 36 by 45 feet, and its cost, including the lot, a little less than three thousand dollars. It was finished within a year from the organization of the church, being dedi- cated January 13, 1841, the Rev. Mr. Ward of Bergen. preaching the dedicatory sermon. The old church build- ing, now known as "The Bee Hive," stands on East Buffalo Street, just east of the Town Hall, and the lecture room has been transformed into a dwelling house, located on Fargo Street.
During the first ten years the church had five pastors, and at least one temporary supply. Early in its life the church took on the various forms of church activity, a prayer meeting being established at once, and a Sunday School as already stated, in 1819; later an Aid Society, and a Mothers' Meeting came into existence. The Sun- day School met at 9 a. m., worship and preaching at 10:30 a. m., an intermission of two hours, which was fol- lowed by another sermon, and still another sermon at 7:30 in the evening.
The pastors during the first decade were Rev. Hunt- ington Lyman, Rev. L. P. Judson. Rev. R. H. Conklin, Rev. P. H. Myers, Rev. Corbin Kidder, and the Rev. M. T. Yeomans a temporary supply. Of these none are liv- ing today.
The Rev. Zachary Eddy becoming pastor September 15, 1850, continued as such for five years. He found a church of one hundred members, and during his pastorate the membership doubled, and the house of worship was twice enlarged.
In 1850 the first pipe organ was obtained and the church life was strong and vigorous. Dr. Eddy was succeeded by the Rev. T. S. Reeves and the Rev. James Vincent, each remaining but a few months. Then followed one of those remarkable experiences common to many churches. The year 1857 may be known as the "year of candidat- ing;" during that year eighteen different ministers occu- pied the pulpit on thirty-six Sabbaths, Mr. L. A. Hayward read sermons on thirteen Sabbaths, Mr. E. E. Farman on
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two Sabbaths and Mr. Seth M. Gates on one Sabbath. This severe "testing" time proved to be but the fore- runner of the blessed and fruitful pastorate of the Rev. E. E. Williams, which began in December 1857 and closed in November 1872, and which has the distinguished honor of being the longest in the history of the church, result- ing in much spiritual growth, increased membership, and marked material advancement; it was during this period that the present commodious house of worship was crected.
For many years the forms and hours of worship re- mained the same, but in 1869 the afternoon service was abandoned, and the Sunday School met at noon; from that time the hours of service have remained as at present, the form of worship undergoing slight changes from time to time.
The spirit of individual responsibility and of personal work was not lacking, for we find by the report of 1861 that Mr. Woodward conducted a Sunday School near Mr. Asher Kinney's, Mr. Moses Osgood one at South Warsaw and Mr. A. B. Lawrence, one at Halls Corners. This report of 1861 was not an isolated one, for many others were like unto it, for in later years Mr. W. A. Walker organized and for many years superintended a Sunday School at Saltvale.
Many fruitful revivals occurred in the experience of the church; the most notable ones are as follows: Under Mr. Eddy, assisted by Dr. Heacock in 1852, 43 additions; un- der Mr. Eddy in 1854, forty additions; under Mr. Williams in 1865, sixty-three were added, and under Mr. Williams in 1866, sixty-one were added; under Mr. Williams in 1870, forty-one were added; under Mr. Pierce in 1886, thirty- six were added, and at the close of the pastorate of Mr. Hobbs, in the union revival, conducted by the Rev. E. E. Davidson, forty-four were added.
The church from its beginning took radical ground upon the question of slavery; in 1851 a declaration was made upon the subject, condemning in the most emphatic lan- guage, not only slavery itself, but every form of alliance with it. Thirty-three men went out from the Congrega- tion to defend the Union, many of whom never returned.
The funeral of the brave and gifted Asa B. Merrill
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was the first soldier's funeral in the village, and was held in this church. After the war several teachers went from here to the South, laboring under the American Missionary Association; among them was Miss Mary S. Williams, who afterwards became a missionary under the American Board, going out in 1871.
Most of the fathers are now in the " Church Triumph- ant," a few only are waiting for the summons "Come Home." Of these men of God we mention the follow- ing : Ezra Walker, Peter Young, Stephen Hurd, Isaac V. Matthews, Charles J. Judd, Joshua H. Darling, Hanover Bradley, Horace Thayer, Eli Merrill, Seth M. Gates.
Among the family names that re-call the earliest days of the church are Woodward, Mckay, Fargo, Merrill, Pierson, Humphrey, Martin, Sheldon, Bronson, Walker.
Time will not permit me to speak of all the men and women worthy of mention in this sketch, still, it is es- pecially interesting to recall the names of some of those who having served their own generation, by the will of God, are now "fallen asleep:"
Deacon Ezra Walker, with bent form, and whitened hair when the church was formed, the faithful, devoted, loving, Deacon Young; J. H. Darling, tall, erect, faithful, wise, unassuming, generous, "A doer of the word and not a hearer only ;" Deacon Judd, slender, dark-haired, learned. a teacher, and influential with the young; Setli M. Gates, of strong convictions, courageous, cultured ; Ilanover Bradley, quiet, methodical, persevering; L. A. Hayward, a wise counselor, zealous, faithful; Mavor Martin, L. L. Martin, Jeremiah Lamberson, Elisha S. Hillman, B. F. Fargo, and many others, all "fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord." Lester Hayden Humphrey, en- ergetic, punctual, efficient, a leader, and always diligent in the business of the church; Simeon D. Lewis, (whose recent death is greatly mourned by the church) capable, careful, conservative, a wise and safe counselor, an up- right man.
In connection with the Society the name of Mr. Wolcott J. Humphrey is perhaps the most prominent; a man un- ostentatious, straight-forward, frank, generous, genial, cour- ageous, companionable, a lover of truth, and righteousness, a
1.
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man whose daily answered prayer seemed to be: "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, Oh Lord."
It was owing to the wise counsel, untiring labor, and generous gifts of J. II. Darling, Seth M. Gates and Wol- eott J. Humphrey that the present house of worship was begun in 1866 and completed in 1867, "the people also having a mind to work." The pipe organ was the gift of Mr. Darling. In 1886, during the pastorate of the Rev. A. F. Pleree, a lot was proeured, and upon it was built an attractive and commodious parsonage, eosting about four thousand dollars. The church was re-modeled in 1891, during the pastorate of Rev. W. A. Hobbs, when the seats were arranged as at present; but it remained for this Centennial year to add the chancel, repair and enlarge the organ, and bring it from where it had remained for nearly four decades to its present place, thus greatly im- proving the appearance of the auditorium.
The ehureh has always believed in, and eneouraged ed- ucation, and can justly boast of a long list of college graduates from among its members, past and present. Of its members, George W. Walker, J. L. Barlow, J. A. Mckay, Levi Speneer, and John M. Merrill have beeome ministers of the gospel; E. E. Farman has received the hon- orary degree of LL. D. and has honorably filled several important Government positions; Merrill E. Gates has become a P. II. D., an LL. D., an L. H. D., a college president and is at present Secretary United States Board of Indian Commissioners. L. H. Humphrey beeamc a member of the Senate of the State of New York; W. HI. Merrill is a gifted and distinguished editor. Chas. D. Seely is a professor in the State Normal School at Brockport, N. Y. I know not how many teachers, law- yers, editors, physicians and honorable men of affairs this church has furnished the world, and to-day we are proud of our young men and women who are away at school, and are soon to fill responsible positions with credit to themselves and the church.
The church has had thirteen pastors, besides four temporary supplies. Sinec the close of the pastorate of E. E. Williams in 1872, the pastors have been H. F. Dud- ley, A. F. Pieree, W. A. Hobbs and Il. E. Gurney, Mr. Dudley is the only pastor who died while here.
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There have been thirty-six deacons, eighteen of whom are still living. The present Board of Deacons is com- posed of the following; L. E. Walker, chairman; A. B. Bishop, W. R. Bathrick, Martin Munger, George Z. Goodale, George M. Lawrence, S. W. Lamberson, Horace L. Martin. The Sunday School has had nine superin- tendents ; F. C. D. McKay, C. J. Judd, L. A. Hayward, S. M. Gates, S. D. Lewis, L. H. Humphrey, W. A. Walker, W. R. Bathrick, M. B. Hale. The present Board of Trustees is composed of the following; E. E. Farman, chairman; A. P. Gage, H. R. Bristol. W. J. Humphrey, E. E. Rowe, the vacancy caused by the deatlı of Mr. S. D. Lewis being still unfilled.
Mr. Cornelius Bradley has been the efficient and painstaking clerk for more than twenty-seven years; Mr. Charles Cuthbert has been its sexton for more than a generation, having served in that capacity for thirty-four consecutive years.
It is with commendable pride we speak of one of our members, the Rev. D. Z. Sheffield, one of the most valua- ble, learned, diplomatic and consecrated missionaries of the American Board. Mr. Sheffield for a number of years has been connected with missionary and educational work in China.
What shall I say of the women "who labored in the Gospel, whose names are in the Book of Life?"
The family names already mentioned suggest "not a few Honorable Women," prayerful, patient, persevering, faithful, and full of faith, "Kings daughters" in very truth, to whom much of the success of the early work of the church is due. Among the many of later times "Holy women also, who trusted in God." and who are now "In the presence of His glory," I may mention Mrs. L. A. Hayward, Mrs. A. P. Gage, Mrs. John Matthews, Mrs. S. B. Humphrey, Mrs. E. C. Shattuck, Mrs. Lester Hayden Humphrey, Mrs. Chauncey C. Gates, Mrs. W. A. Walker. It may be said of this church in all its history, past and present, "The Lord giveth the word, the women that publish it are a great host."
During the existence of the church, upwards of twelve hundred have been received into membership. Who can
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measure the influence of these lives. It will only be known when "The books are opened." Four hundred and fifty names are at present upon the roll.
" And what I shall more say, for the time will fail me to tell of those who through faith wrought righteousness, obtained promises, from weakness were made strong."
I close this historical sketch of the Congregational Church of Warsaw, knowing that he whose privilege it may be to make a similar one at the time of the celebra- tion of Warsaw's Bi-centennial, will so prepare it, that all who hear it, and all who read it, will bear the same testimony, that was given at the nineteenth anniversary in 1859, at the twenty-fifth anniversary in 1865, at the fiftieth anniversary in 1890, and given upon the present occasion, namely, "Glorious things of thee are spoken," and "One generation shall praise thy works to another." And may "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Amen.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
History Written by Rev. A. S. Cole. Read by Rev. E. G. Gilbert, June 28, 1903
The First Baptist Church of Warsaw, as it is now called, was organized Nov. 25, 1810, by Elder David Irish, a pastor in Cayuga County, while on one of his preach- ing tours. It consisted of the following eighteen (another authority says fourteen) members : Joseph Porter and wife, Josiah Boardman and wife and daughter, Noah Wiseman, John Truesdell, Levi Stearns, Hannah Stearns, John Brown, William Brown, Miriam Brown, Levi Rice, Hannah Rice, Jeremiah Truesdell, Elijah Hammond, Rhoda Reed and Joanna Beardsley. Middle- bury being then a part of Warsaw, and a Baptist church having been formed there, this church was first known, though only for a few years, as the second Baptist Church of Warsaw. Joseph Porter was the first deacon, chosen in April, 1811, and Jeremiah Irons the first pastor en- gaged in the autumn of 1811. The church was born in a revival. During the first few months of its history, at least twenty-eight were baptized, so that at the end of its first year the church numbered forty-nine members.
In 1828 the church was incorporated under the name of the "Baptist Church and Society in Warsaw." The meeting for incorporation was held June 9, 1828, and the certificate was filed in the office of the county clerk at Batavia on July 7, 1828, The first trustees, elected at the meeting for incorporation, were David Fargo, Samuel Salisbury and Seth Higgins.
The church joined the Holland Purchase Association in 1812, when its name appears in the first published minutes of that organization. In that year it reported forty-four members, and Joseph Porter was the delegate.
The next year three delegates are mentioned, Elders William Pattison and Jabez Boomer, and Elijah Ham- mond. Other delegates whose names are recorded in
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these early years are William Wiseman, Nehemiah Fargo, Aaron Lyon, David Fargo, Shubel Reynolds, and Jonathan F. Hibbard. Other prominent names, found in the early minutes of the church, are Samuel Salisbury, John Truesdell, Sylvanus Hawley, Seth Higgins, and John Windsor, the last being elected treasurer of the Church and Society 1833. In 1827 the church withdrew from the Holland Purchase Association, and the next year joined the Genesee Association, with which it is still connected.
On September 15, 1827, the following members were dis- missed to form a Baptist church in Gainesville: William Wiseman, William Devoe, Noah Wiseman, Dennis Wise- man, Warren Thorp, William Pattison, Susan Parker, Lydia Thorp, Lncy Pattison, Sally Pattison, Polly Wiseman, Ann Stocker, Thankful Page, Sally Ann Wright, Susanna Barber, Sally Stocking, Mary Ann Wiseman, Sally Munger. This church was recognized on October 6, 1827, but has since become extinct.
An interesting item in regard to the pastor's salary is found in the church minutes under date of January 19, 1828, and reads as follows: "Voted to give Elder Bernard a call to preach with us two-thirds of the time for one year to commence next May, 1828, and to give him for his services, two hundred dollars and find his firewood. It was a unanimous vote."
At first the church met for worship in barns and school houses, John Truesdell's barn being a frequent and favorite place of meeting. A Union Society had been organized, and in 1817 "A house of worship was erected in the village, principally by the joint efforts of the Baptists and Presbyterians. It was only inclos- ed, however, and could be occupied only in the sum- mer season. In March, 1819, the Baptists sold out their interest to the Presbyterians, by whom it was finished in the spring of 1821." (Young's History of Warsaw). In 1828, while Elder David Bernard was pastor, the Baptist church erected its first meeting house on what is now the west side of the cemetery. This was used until 1842, when it was sold, torn down, and built over again into a dwelling house, which still stands on North Main Street near the Methodist church. In 1842 the second house of
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worship was erected in the village on the site of the pres- ent church building. This was extensively repaired in 1880 at a cost of nearly $1,400, and was re-dedicated on December 30th of that year. In 1889 the building was sold and removed and the present beautiful brick struc- ture erected on the same site at a cost of $13,675, in- cluding furnishings. The corner stone was laid on July 16, 1889, and the service of dedication was held on Feb- ruary 26, 1890.
It may here be added that in 1873 the parsonage onl Grove street was purchased.
The church was not without its serious problems in the early years of its history. One of these is seen in the following question addressed by the church to the Hol- land Purchase Association at its meeting in Middlebury in 1823: "Suppose a brother declare his belief in uni- versal salvation or restoration; what course shall the church take with him? Shall he be excluded, and what shall his crime be called?" And this is the answer of the Association: "They shall choose a commttee of well informed brethren to labor with him. Should he not be gained, he must be excluded for embracing heresy or false doctrine."
Equal suffrage was another question of some import- ance in the early history. The minutes of January 1, 1830, contain this record : "The case of the sisters voting in the church decided unanimously. See paper on file. Sisters no authority, no right to vote, but should be called on after the brethren." The church seems soon to have been ashamed of this resolution, for in the min- utes of April 3, 1830, we read: "Resolved to destroy a decision of the church left on file in relation to the sisters voting." And the question was finally settled on October 23, 1830, under which date this record appears : " The subject of respecting sisters voting was brought forward and resolved that each member enjoy their privilege." This ungrammatical sentence is the Magna Charta of the women of Warsaw Baptist Church, the only guarantee so far as the official records show, of their right to vote in church meeting.
The attitude of the church on the slavery question may be judged from the fact that a record states that
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on April 22, 1854. an offering was made to aid fugitive slaves. The church thus owned some shares in the "un- der-ground railroad. "
But by far the most serious question which agitated the church in the early years of its histroy was that concerning secret societies, and this was a problem com- mon to all churches at that time. In 1827 the church passed a resolution against Free Masonry and made it one of the Articles of Faith. In the same year it with- drew from the Holland Purchase Association because that body did not take a radical attitude on the question of secret societies. From time to time the problem re-ap- peared, and was finally settled by the following resolu- tions passed on September 19, 1859: "In view of the troubles that have agitated this church for the past few months in regard to the matter of her mem- bers being connected with secret societies, we feel where so great a variety of opinion prevails (and which in the exercise of Christian charity we are bound to believe conscientious on all sides), that it is not best for us as a church to express any opinion in this matter either sanctioning or condemning those who are now already connected with such societies, but to leave them free to act as their own consciences shall dictate to be for the best interests of Zion. But as it must be con- ceded by all that this is a very fertile source of trouble and discussion, in this light we kindly advise those who are now connected with such societies to withdraw from them, or at least if they do continue to hold their connection, to endeavor that it shall be in such a man- ner that it shall not offend those who think differently; and we feel called upon to say very emphatically to ali who are now disconnected that we think it is their duty not to entangle themselves with any such alliance, and also to advise all parties to very carefully avoid all dis- cussion upon, or tending to lead to this subject, so that peace may be restored to the church." These resolutions though not as liberal as the Christian sentiment of the present time when the controversy is a thing of the past, are, nevertheless, wonderfully broad in spirit when we con- sider how high the feeling ran and how acute the dis- cussion was. This church thus practically settled the
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matter long before many other churches were out of the controversy, and individual prejudice gradually disap- peared in succeding years.
Beginning with eightcen members in 1810, the church increased in numbers with great regularity until in 1843 it had 219 members, having at that time, it is claimed, the largest membership of any church in Warsaw. It then began to decrease steadily in numbers, the tide being occasionally turned for a year or so by a revival, until in 1868 there were only 89 members. Since that time there has been an almost uninterrupted growth, the membership reaching the highest point in 1900, when there were 301 members on the church roll. The records show that considerably over 700 persons have been re- ceived into the church by profession of faith and bap- tism. Including those who have joined by letter or otherwise, about 1500 persons in all have been received into the membership of the church during its history. There have been special seasons of revivals in the years 1810-11, 1820, 1831, 1842-43, 1853, 1857-58, 1870, 1876, 1887-88, and 1899. It is interesting to note that these times of spiritual activity and power have occurred on an average once in ten years.
The church has always been especially interested in missionary work. So far as its records show, and they are by no means complete, over $7,200, have been given for missions and other objects of benevolence. There is a record of a missionary meeting on October 24, 1833, at which a native Burman was present and an address was given by one who was about to start for Burmah as a missionary. The record concludes as follows: "At the close a collection was taken in which was contributed between 16 and 17 dollars besides some shalls [" shawls" probably meant ], rings, etc., which [were] given to Eld. Dean to help bear him away to the Burman Empire as an ambassador of Christ." This church has also sent some of its own number to the mission field. Mrs. Juliet Pattison Binney, daughter of Rev. William Pattison, one of the pastors of the church, and wife of Rev. Joseph Getchell Binney, D. D., was for many years a missionary in Burmah. Dr. Binney organized the educational
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