USA > New York > Wyoming County > Warsaw > History of the centennial celebration : Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York, June 28-July 2, 1903 : 1803-1903 > Part 5
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work for the Karens, and was at the head of a school in Maulmain, afterwards removed to Rangoon, Burmah. More than three hundred Karen ministers were educated by him, and he also did much work in translating and publishing books in the Karen language. In all this work as missionary, teacher and translator, Dr. Binmey was ably assisted by his faithful wife. Dr. Binney died on November 26, 1877, on his return voyage to Burmah after a short visit to this country for his health and was buried in the Indian Ocean. Mrs. Binney died on May 18, 1884, at Rangoon, Burmah. Another mem- ber of the church who became a missionary was Mrs. Sarah Griffith Mosier. She left Warsaw for India in October, 1890, and on December 8th of that year was married to Rev. L. H. Mosier of Mandelay, Burmah. Her work was cut short by her death in Burmah on June 26, 1891.
Turning to other lincs of service, this church has Sent out two college presidents. Rev. Robert E. Patti- son. D. D., was baptized into the membership of the church when a young man. He studied at Amherst College, and stood second in a class of forty. As pas- tor, professor and college president, he attained a position of great prominence in the Baptist denomination. He was the author of a "Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians," He died in 1874 at the residence of his eldest son, in St. Louis. The Hon. James R. Doolittle, LL. D., was for a number of years a mem- ber of this church, which he joined by baptismn. In 1831, he removed to Racine, Wisconsin, and later served for two terms as United States senator from that state. He was for a succession of years a professor in the law school, and for one year president of the old University of Chicago.
In its ninety-three years of existence, the church has had thirty-five pastors, whose names are as follows: Jeremiah Irons, David Hurlburt, Jabez Boomer, William Pattison, Leonard Anson, Anson Tuthill, David Bernard, Peter Freeman, Abraham Ennis, G. V. Walling, Joseph Elliott, B. Wilcox, Hiram K. Stimson, Judah L. Richmond, A. C. Barrell, Hogarth Leavenworth, W. C. Hubbard, Philander Shedd, Howell Smith, William Cormac, J. B.
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HISTORY OF THE
Pitman, Samuel Hough, Wheeler I. Crane, Abner Morrill, Alphonso C. Williams, Cyrus M. Booth, B. H. Damon, Jirah B. Ewell, Francis Sherer, James J. Townsend, IIenry HI. Emmett, Otis A. Dike, Oscar R. McKay, Arthur S. Cole, Ellis Gilbert. Of these pastors it is interesting to note that Elders Jabez Boomer and William Pattison were among the early settlers iu War- saw or its vicinity. The former was here ordained to the gospel ministry on August 29th, 1816. Elder II. K. Stimson served the church twice as pastor. The average length of pastorate has been about two years and three months. The longest pastorate was that of Rev. O. R. McKay, who served the church six years and five months.
The church has had twenty-five deacous, whose names, in the order of their election to office, are as follows: Joseph Porter, Elijah Hammond, William Wiseman, Jona- than F. Hibbard, Samuel Salisbury, Abial Lathrop, David Fargo, Broughton W. Crane, John Starks, Samuel L. Keeney, Simeon Holton, Calvin T. Bryant, Jacob J. Brin- instool, Lucius Austin, Dorson C. Bentley, Austin Lane, Charles Cheney. Benjamin Roberts, Andrew J. Sayer, George W. Bradley, Fred A. Merchant, Samuel J. Munger, Frank H. Roberts, George W. Perrine, Hezekiah S. Fargo. Allen Fargo was two or three times elected deacon by the church, but declined to serve. Five of the deacons served the church for more than twenty years, as follows: Brough- ton W. Crane, 43 years, from 1834 to 1877; Calvin T. Bryant, 33 years, from 1869 to 1902; Simeon Holton, 27 years and 7 months, from 1857 to 1885; Jonathan F. Hib- bard, 25 years and 3 months, from 1827 to 1853; and Samuel Salisbury, about 30 years as nearly as can be ascer- tained, though divided into two terms of service. Next in length of service come J. J. Brininstool, who held office 18 years and 3 months, and the present senior deacon of the church, Andrew J. Sayer, the eighteenth anniversary of whose election to the office of deacon comes on Octo- ber 3d of the present year, 1903.
This history has been compiled principally from the following sources :
Church minutes from 1827 to 1834, and from 1847 to 1903.
Certificate of Incorporation.
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Minutes of Holland Purchase Association from 1812 to 1827.
Minutes of Genesee Association from 1828 to 1902.
History of the church by Rev. Abner Morrill, in minutes of Genesee Baptist Association for 1867.
History of Warsaw, by A. W. Young.
The Baptist Encyclopedia, edited by William Cathcart, D. D.
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EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Sermon by Rev. H. S. Gatley, Sunday, June 28, 1903
Ephesians 2:19, 20, 21: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foun- dation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord."
To-day we begin to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the settlement of our town. It is most proper that this celebration should begin on the Lord's day, and with appropriate sermons in the churches of the village; for the Christian religion has been the most potent influence at work in the growth and development of a village in the valley of the Oatka.
Now we, who are known as Trinity Church, a parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, have had a part in the religious life of Warsaw during these one hundred years. It is my pur- pose this morning to speak to you of the history of the work of our church during that period. The first ques- tions that confront us are: What are we and where did we come from. The answer to both of these ques- tions is part of the text; "Fellow-citizens with the saints of the household of God " and "Founded upon the apostles and prophets." We use the word "saints" with its New Testament meaning, which was the same as our modern term church member. The saints were those who had been separated from the world by being baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are then fellow- citizens with all men, everywhere, who have been bap- tized with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. We acknowledge God as Our Father and we are His children and therefore look upon ourselves not only as "fellow-citizens with saints," but also "of the household of God."
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As to whence we came, we answer again in the words of the text: "Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets." The Apostles and their associates founded a church at Jerusalem, which spread through Judea, to Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the world. We believe that the definite organization which grew up under the hands of the last of the Apostles has been preserved down through the ages which followed, until it planted its standards in this new land, and took its part in the spiritual building up of the nation.
The " Parish of Trinity Church. in the village of War- saw," was organized May 12, 1852. The germ of this or- ganization, however, was planted at a much earlier date, and its friends had been for many years favored, for short periods, with the services of ministers of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The Rev. Richard Salmon, missionary at Geneseo, in his report to the New York Convention of 1826, wrote that he was engaged for the ensuing year conditionally to preach at Wethersfield and Warsaw alter- nately, for one-half the time. To the Convention of 1828, he reported that he had moved to Warsaw, the center of the station; that he had here given nineteen Sundays and thirty-two lectures; that the service was performed with great zeal and propriety; and that several additions had been made to the communicants. In September, 1828, Bishop Hobart confirmed six persons. In 1829, Rev. Mr. Salmon. who appears to have moved to Medina, reported to the Convention, "That the congregation at Warsaw, and also those at Wethersfield and Sheldon, notwithstand- ing their destitute circumstances during the past year, are evidently flourishing; and the labors of a Missionary would unquestionably be greatly blessed." He wrote also that the Sabbath School at Warsaw, formed during his location there, of about twenty-five scholars, had been in- creased to an average attendance of between eighty and ninety. Being again missionary at Warsaw, he reported to the Convention of 1831, that during the thirteen months past, he had "officiated half the time at Warsaw, quarter at Sheldon, and a quarter at Wethersfield; and occasion- ally on Sunday evenings and on week days at Wyoming. Bishop Onderdonk, in August 1832, visited Warsaw, bap- tized one adult, and confirmed eleven."
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Rev. Alexander Fraser. missionary at Warsaw, reported to the Convention of 1834: "When I came to Warsaw, I found it to be the day of small and feeble things in- deed. * * * * I have labored the greater part of the time at Warsaw. The congregations are good, and the prospects of the church are more pleasing than at any former period." To the convention of 1835, Rev. Isaac Garvin reported that he had labored at Warsaw half the time, and divided the rest between Wethersfield and Aurora.
The Rev. Henry Tullidge, missionary at Wethersfield reported to the Convention of 1839: "I have occasionally preached a third service at Warsaw. I have preached at Warsaw several times in the Methodist and Presbyterian houses to very respectable congregations. * * *
* I am not without hope that the church may again be revived there. There are still remaining some who love the Church, and would do all in their power for its support. In 1843, Bishop Delancey preached one Sabbath in the Baptist house of worship and baptized one child."
We now come to the organization of the Society under .ts present title.
On the 12th of May, 1852, in pursuance of a notice previously given on two successive Sabbaths, the follow- ing named persons incorporated themselves under the act of the legislature as a religious society, to be known in law by the name and title of "The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Church in the Town of Warsaw in the County of Wyoming," John A. McElwain, John G. Meachem, Noble Morris, Ransom S. Watson, Nehemiah Park, Jr., Richard M. Tunks, Alonzo W. Wood, Charles W. Bailey. The Rev. A. D. Benedict, rector of the church and congregation, was called to the Chair, and Charles W. Bailey was appointed secretary. The meet- ing then proceeded to elect two Church Wardens and right vestrymen, John A. McElwain and John G. Meachem were elected Church Wardens, and Alonzo W. Wood, Nehemiah Park, Jr .. Linus W. Thayer, Noble Morris, Ransom S. Watson, Charles W. Bailey, Richard M. Tunks and Abel Webster were elected Church Vestrymen.
Mr. Noble Morris is worshiping with us this morning to commemorate that event.
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A certificate of incorporation having been prepared, it was signed by the officers of the meeting, and caused to be recorded. In June, 1853, at a meeting of the Vestry, it was voted that a lot be purchased for a house of worship, and a building committee was appointed, consist- ing of John G. Meachem, N. Park and A. W. Wood.
On Tuesday, August 16, 1853, the corner stone of the new church building was laid. The Rev. Dr. Bolles of Batavia delivered the address. The articles in the box placed in the corner stone were, the record of the organization of the parish, the names of the Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen and of the builder; the last number of each of our village papers, a copy of the Gos- pel Messenger, one of the Diocesan Journal, a Bible and the Book of Common Prayer.
On Ascension Day, May 25, 1854, in the morning, the building was in due form consecrated "to the wor- ship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, by the name of Trinity Church." The Rt. Rev. William H. Delancey, D. D., first Bishop of Western New York, read the Office of Consecration and preached the sermon. In the evening he preached again and confirmed six persons; Charles Henshaw, Wil- liam G. Meachem, Mrs. Maria Mowry, Mrs. Jane An- drews, Miss Sophia Sutherland and Miss Amelia J. Bar- ber.
In March, 1864, by the will of the late Mrs. Laura S. Watson, the church came into possession of a house and lot, to be held as a parsonage, "so long as the church shall remain an organized body and shall have a regu- larly established rector or clergyman therein."
Since the date of the present organization, Rev. A. D. Benedict had the pastoral charge of the church, from May 12th, 1852, until April, 1855.
Rev. Wm. White Montgomery became reetor June Sth, 1856, resigned April 3, 1858.
Rev. Thomas Applegate became rector June 1st, 1858, resigned June 1st, 1859.
Rev. Wm. O. Gorham became rector December 25th, 1859, and resigned June, 1862.
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Rev. Noble Palmer became reetor November, 1862, and resigned October, 1863.
Rev. Robert Horwood was called October 10th, 1863, to supply the parish for one year. In October, 1864, the call was renewed for another year. IIe resigned June, 1865.
Rev. John V. Stryker became rector March 1st, 1866 and continued in charge until October 1, 1877.
The Rev. E. J. Cook was elected rector January 1, 1878 and officiated until July 25, 1882.
The Rev. Charles T. Coerr was rector from February 1, 1883 until October 1, 1884.
The Rev. A. J. Brockway was elected rector on December 29, 1884 and remained until July 15th, 1889.
The Rev. William Gardham officiated as rector from April 24, 1890 until August 25, 1890.
The Rev. H. W. Spaulding, D. D., began his rectorship December 30, 1890 and died September 6, 1891.
The Rev. M. C. Hyde became rector May 3, 1893, and died November 18, 1899.
The Rev. H. S. Gatley became rector May 1, 1900 and remains rector at this celebration.
Since the organization of the parish in 1852 there have been baptized as recorded in the Parish Register, 311 persons ; 237 persons confirmed; 87 couples married; and 168 persons buried.
The semi-centennial of the organization of the parish was celebrated in 1902. On Trinity Sunday, May 25, a corporate Communion of the parish was held. On Thurs- day, June 12, Edward M. H. Knapp, who had been reared in the parish, was ordained to the Diaconate. The Rev. Townsend Russell, rector of St. Thomas Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., preached the sermon. The Rev. Dr. Boynton of Geneseo, the Rev. Pierre Cushing of LeRoy, the Rev. Allen Prescott of Cuba, the Rev. Edwin Hoff- man of Hornellsville, and the rector of this parish, assist- ed the Bishop of the Diocese in the laying-on-of-hands.
In the year 1900 the rectory was thoroughly renovated at a cost of about eight hundred dollars. In 1902 the church building was painted outside, and a new cross
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placed upon the spire, the old one having blown down several years before. The parish at present numbers nearly one hundred communicants and is entirely free from all indebtedness. The present Wardens of the church are Nathan S. Beardslee and Eben O. MeNair; the Ves- trymen are James O. McClure, Jacob M. Smith, Frank C. Gould, Edward II. Morris, George W. Warren, Robert Ilume, William II. Sherman, David M. Cauffman and T. DeLancey Agar.
Such is the history of our church in Warsaw during these last one hundred years, and in closing the ques- tions might be asked: What do we stand for as a christian organization, and to what do we look forward. The text again furnishes the answer. "Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone" were the words of St. Paul and the words express what we stand for. The articles of our belief are the Apostles' Creed, which we believe to be the simplest and best statement in human language of the christian faith. And now brethren as we look forward to another hundred years of christian life let our watchwords be unity, work and hope. As we press forward toward the high calling of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, let us strive and pray that in the words of the text, we may grow "unto an holy temple in the Lord."
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EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
Evangelical Association Church History at Warsaw, Wyoming County, N. Y., by Rev. I. K. Devitt
In 1845 or 1846, a pioneer preacher, of the Evangelical Association, wended his way from Pennsylvania through Steuben and Livingston counties into Wyoming county. Here he found a settlement of German families located around Warsaw that were like sheep without a shepherd, not having any German preacher near, to baptize their children and be their spiritual adviser. Having been accustomed to attend divine service on the Sabbath day in the old Vaterland, they hailed with joy this man of God sent them. Some opened their houses for holding ser- vices. Under the preached word of this earnest man of God some were led to a knowledge of sin, turned to God, sought forgiveness and united themselves with a praying band. Who this preacher was the writer has not been able to find out as yet.
In 1852-1853 evangelistic meetings were conducted by Revs. Theo. Schneider and William Oetzel, 34 were con- verted. Soon after they organized themselves into a class and Rev. J. Yenni was appointed pastor by the New York Conference. In the spring of 1853 they bought a house, the first frame building in the neighborhood, from Messrs. George and Luther Handy about one-quar- ter of a mile west of the site of the present church, mnoved it across the street, tore out the partitions and used it as a place of meeting until 1865 when it became too small and the present church was erected.
Among the descendants of the first members many have gone to almost every state in the Union and have taken prominent places in the church and state. Some of the brave boys and men that fell at the front came from this church.
Among the charter members were Mich. Schmidt and wife, Philip Schmidt and wife, Gottfried Goetz and
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wife, Grandma Goetz, Jacob Goetz and wife, Abraham Dick and wife, Mrs. Doratha Christ, Fisher family and others. With three or four exceptions, all have gone to their reward.
The following pastors have served the church: Revs. J. Harlacher, J. Sindlinger, Franz Harlan, Mich. Eiss, A. Z. Gottwals, J. Yenni, Theo. Schneider, P. Alles, J. Wagner, Theo. Hauch, M. Pfitzenger, HI. Weiser, HI. Holzman, J. Greuzenbach, L. Herman, C. A. Wieseman, G. F. Buesch, M. Lehn, G. Trech, J. Eberling, P. Spath, C. F. Stube, H. Koch, A. Schlenk, C. W. Neuendorf, Philip Sachs, and I. K. Devitt, the present pastor.
The church at present is in a prosperous condition and on the 30th day of August will celebrate its semi-centen- nial.
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ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
The Catholic church [in Warsaw was during many years a station and afterward a mission. About the year 1850 Father McConnell established a station here and built a church on the corner of Mechanic and North streets in this village. He was succeeded in turn by Father Lawton, Father McGinnis, Father Purcell and Father Cook, the latter remaining in charge for about eight years. All these priests resided in Portageville. The first resident priest of St. Michael's parish was Rev. T. Fitzpatrick who remained four years. The building erected by Father McConnell was not sufficiently large to meet the needs of the constantly increasing congregation, and Father Fitzpatrick had it en- larged to about double its former capacity. A parsonage was purchased in 1870. On March 19, 1874, Rev. M. O'Dwyer was placed in charge by Bishop Ryan.
Father O'Dwyer was followed by Rev. Maurice Lee, who remained for several years and did good work.
Rev. James J. Leddy became priest of St. Michael's church and parish on June 22, 1887, coming to Warsaw from Westfield. He accomplished much in the way of elevating and giving tone and dignity to the parish, hav- ing the hearty co-operation of his parishioners. He placed the parish on a strong financial footing and in the erec- tion of the present fine church edifice and parochial resi- dence demonstrated great executive ability. He remained in Warsaw for ten years, going from here to the irre- movable rectorship of St. John church in Lockport.
Rev. James J. Leddy was succeeded by Rev. Michael Noonan, who remained less than a year, and was followed by Rev. J. H. Leddy, who died on May 13, 1901, in the second year of his pastorate here. Two weeks later Rev. Thomas H. Murray came to this parish from Andover, N. Y., and though in ill health was so earnest and en- ergetic that he accomplished much good work. He died on December 3d, 1902 and was succeeded in February 1903 by Rev J. J. Rogers, the present rector.
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Part TWO "OLD HOME DAY" Tuesday Afternoon, June 30, 1903
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ELBERT E. FARMAN
ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY JUDGE E. E. FARMAN
Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen :-
It is with great pleasure that I perform the duty assigned to me of extending to you a welcome on this memorable occasion, the celebration of Warsaw's first Centennial. To all I extend greetings and a hearty welcome. So far as I am speaking to former residents of our town I wish to emphasize this welcome, which I extend on behalf of the Centennial Association and of all the citizens of Warsaw. We welcome you to your old homes, hallowed in many instances, by the sacred rem- iniscences of childhood.
We are assembled today to recall the memories and honor the brave men and women, who a hundred years ago came from the east and settled in the primeval forests that then covered the now beautiful valley of the Oatka and its surrounding hills. Following lines of blazed trees, or some old trails, crossing streams without bridges, passing through swamps and marshes without roads, after weeks of laborious travel they arrived at the sight of their new home, built their log cabins, and commenced felling the tall elms whose wide-spreading branches covered the whole valley. Wild animals often made the nights hideous, and the savage Indian was, at times, a real cause of alarm.
It was a remarkable period, a new epoch in American history, the commencement of that western emigration, destined to sweep across the continent.
The echoes of the Revolution had just died away. The aspirations of a people for liberty had been realized. A nation had been born. It was in its infancy, but it had the vigor, the virility of manhood.
The Indian tribes still settled in Central New York, were no longer stimulated to hostilities by the subsidies
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of a foreign power, and fears of the atrocities of for- mer years were to a large extent, removed. The great barrier, the wall of the wilderness, defended by a dread- ed foe, which had long formed the western boundary of the American settlements seemed now surmountable. Large numbers of those born in Eastern New York and New England, moved by some mysterious impulse, some of the hidden springs imbedded in man, perhaps the love of adventure, or the never satiated desire of more and better lands that characterizes the Anglo-Saxon, sud- denly left their old homes and sought new ones in the unbroken solitude of a vast wilderness.
It is the result of this spirit of adventure, the love of progress, the constant reaching out for something bet- ter or more abundant, that has made this young nation one of the greatest, one of the richest and most power- ful on the globe, a nation destined to be the greatest, the wealthiest, the most powerful.
It is a singular fact that for twenty centuries pre- vious to that just past, the world made little progress in experimental science, in the means and manner of living, the art of manufacture, the mode and facilities of com- munication and transportation. In the arts of architecture and sculpture the ancients attained a degree of perfection that has never been surpassed. Painting was at its zenith in the days of the Renaissance. Gutenburg per- fected a printing press with movable type centuries be- fore. Fire-arms had long been in use. Whitney had then lately made the wonderful invention of the cotton- gin, but the means and modes of tilling the soil, in 1803, were as primitive as those of the ancient Parthians; the grain of the fields was cut with a sickle of the same form as those of the days of Moses; the ox-cart was no improvement upon the vehicles of the Roman; grain was threshed by the flail, or the tread of cattle as on the threshing floors of sacred history, and tossed in the wind to separate it from the chaff; all modern means of fast transportation and instantaneous communication were wholly unknown; and had not even entered the mind of the wildest, optimistic dreamer. There had been at all times, throughout the historic periods, an abundance of
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metaphysicians, who, in most instances, repeated the theories, the vagaries of some of their predecessors, but as we look back through the centuries, the world in ma- terial progress, in the departments I have mentioned, seems to have stood still for more than two thousand years, making almost literally true the old adage, "there is nothing new under the sun."
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