USA > New York > Ulster County > Kingston > Semi-centennial celebration of the Rondout Presbyterian Church, Kingston, N.Y. 1833-1883 > Part 4
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Brethren in the ministry, you well know the worth of the prayer meeting. It is the thermometer of the church, you need look no further for the spiritual condition of your church, or any other, than to the attendance, the interest, and especially the spirit manifested in the weekly church prayer meeting. A word or two more about our first pastor, Mr. Mason, who after being with us about two years, began to look around for a larger field of labor. He was a young man of promise, competent to fill almost any pulpit, so far as ability was required. While extravagant in his manner of living he soon found the small salary we paid him inadequate to his support, and resigned his pastorate and accepted a call to a larger church. Our church was then for about a year without a pastor or regular preaching, when we engaged the Rev. Wm. Riley, a Licentiate from New Brunswick, N. J., Seminary as stated supply, who served us about two years. He was
ordained and installed in the Reformed church of Hurley as pastor, and supplied us as long as he remained their pastor. Mr. Riley was the opposite of Mr. Mason, while scholarly and a good preacher, prudent, economical in his living and consis- tent in his ministerial life, yet, he was not the off-hand ready speaker and orator we had in Mr. Mason. Our church was again without the stated ministry for nearly six months, when we called the Rev. James M. Sayre of Catskill, a Licentiate
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Walter B. Crane.
from the New York Seminary, who was ordained and installed September 18, 1839. Failing health compelled the resignation of Mr. Sayre in April, 1842. The Rev. John H. Carle suc- ceeded Mr. Sayre, and was installed May 5, 1842, and resigned his charge April 20, 1847. The Rev. Benjamin T. Phillips succeeded Mr. Carle, November 30, 1847, and resigned 'his pastorate to accept a Chaplaincy in the army in April 1861. Having served the church nearly three times as long as any former pastor, our church was greatly blessed under the ministry of Mr. Phillips, the membership having increased from eighty-eight to two hundred and sixteen during his ministry.
The Rev. William Irvin of New York, a graduate of Prince- ton seminary, and now the beloved pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Troy, N. Y., which place he has so faithfully and successfully filled since he resigned the pastorate of this church, succeeded Mr. Phillips, February 18, 1862, and resigned his charge in May, 1867. Mr. Irvin's pastoral work was thorough and complete. His successor often referred to his faithful ministry.
The Rev. Edward D. Ledyard, also a graduate from Prince- ton seminary, succeeded Mr. Irvin, and was ordained and installed, August 29, 1867. Mr. Ledyard soon became very popular with his people, the congregation largely increased under his preaching, and the old church became too small to accommodate all who wished to wait on his ministry, and a new church was commenced, and about half completed, when fail- ing health compelled him to resign his charge in January, 1874. At this time our church was about one-half completed, and the future to us looked dark indeed. I have felt since, it was a rebuke to us, we had trusted too much in man, and not enough in Him whose house we were building.
The Rev. Isaac Clark from Brooklyn, N. Y., succeeded Mr. Ledyard and was installed October 13, 1874. In Mr. Clark we found just the man to take up and carry forward to com- pletion, and most successfully, the work Mr. Ledyard was
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compelled to lay down, and after having served our church with great acceptance temporally, as well as a spiritual teacher, and faithful minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which his labors were greatly blessed in large accessions to our church, Mr. Clark resigned his pastorate January 10, 1882, and was succeeded by our present pastor Rev. Irving Magee, D. D. from Albany, N. Y., who was installed October 26, 1882. Dr. Magee's genial manners, with earnest and faithful preach- ing, has added largely to our congregation and many accessions to our beloved church. I have not the number or complete dates of yearly accessions, yet there has not a year passed since our organization but some have been added to its numbers, although in some years the deaths of its members or dismissals to other churches have about equalled the accessions. In 1834, Mr. Stephed Osterhoudt was added to the eldership, a man of sterling piety, exemplary in christian life and conduct, of superior judgment and in every respect fully competent to fill the important office to which he was elected. While living nearly five miles from the church, his place in the church on the Sabbath, as well as in the weekly prayer meeting, was seldom vacant, and as an example to many tardy ones he always was on time at the commencement of the service, which was noticeable.
In 1842 the following persons were elected and ordained to the sacred office of the eldership: Peter M. G. Decker, Tyler H. Abbey and W. B. Crane. In 1847, Gideon Ostrander was added to the Eldership. In 1850, Wm. H. DeGroff, John P. Hill and George DuBois were elected to the above office of Ruling Elders. In 1858, John McCausland and Henry W. Copeland were elected to the Eldership. Some of the former elders having died, and removed from the place, an addition was made to the Eldership in the election in 1868 of Francis Powley, Jefferson McCausland and David F. More. In 1871, D. B. Abbey and John H. Deyo were elected. In 1876 Au- gustus W. Brodhead was added to the above office and duly installed. Of the eighteen who have held the office of Ruling
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Rev. Dr. Magee.
Elder only eleven are now living. Six of those are now in ac- tive service in this church, the other five having removed from the place. In 1876 our church membership was three hun- dred and forty-seven. In April, 1883, we reported to the Pres- bytery three hundred and ninety-four. Since then there have been added twenty-four, making the number as in printed order of exercises four hundred and eighteen. As we look over the fifty years past, how comparatively short the time appears, and as I call to mind those godly men, Young, Terry, Oster- houdt, Wurts and Endicott, it seems I can almost see and hear them in their language of prayer as they poured out their souls in agony, and weeping for the salvation of souls, and the establishment of Christ's Church throughout this region, and along the line of the canal, which at that time was nearly des- titute of any religious organization.
I cannot close this sketch without a word in behalf of Mr. Maurice Wurts, Agent of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. His wise council, judicious management, together with his liberality, enabled us to complete our church build- ing, which could not have been done at that time without the means he so kindly furnished. He was truly a man of faith and prayer. Though timid and humble, yet he was always in the prayer meeting, ready and prompt in assisting in the service. He was ready to aid, and in sympathy with any Christian enter- prise, always ready and anxious to assist in sustaining the Sab- bath school, of which he was for some time a prominent teacher. He often requested me to inform him of any poor or needy persons, as he would like to contribute to their comfort. To me the names of such persons are very dear; I love to think and speak of them with their acts of faith and labor of love in connection with our beloved church.
Rev. Dr. MAGEE - There is something marvellous in the change that these fifty years have wrought in the spirit that has existed between different denominations. I can remember when I was a boy, how, in the town in which I lived, a new
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church came in, and the chief desire of all the old inhabitants and members of the former church was to dispose of that young church as quickly as possible. The wider and broader spirit of to-day is shown in the message of " God-speed " which each church extends to the other. We are but different work- men on the same great structure, and on the one corner is a builder of one name, upon another wall, a builder of another name, and upon the other yet another, and from each there comes the message, " Cheer, my brother; cheer, my brother." And it is that spirit, I believe, more than all else, that is bless- ing the world to-day and building up the cause of Christ with a sweeter spirit than the years gone by experienced. It be- comes my pleasant duty to-night to introduce the representa- tives of the different churches of the city. And as the mother church of all was the broad, strong First Dutch Church of Kingston, it gives me the first, if not greatest pleasure, to intro- duce its present pastor, Rev. Dr. Van Slyke.
Rev. J. G. VAN SLYKE, D. D., spoke as follows :- As the representative of the oldest and the most venerable sister, or perhaps mother, I should say in the family of churches of this community, I come here to night with a sort of family interest, and I feel like patronizing, patting you on the head, as I bring you my blessing ; for you have grown up a very goodly child during these fifty years, and the venerable mother to night admires and takes a laudable pride in the flush of health you exhibit and in the fullness of your vigor. Then it is to me a matter of peculiar interest, if I may be able to speak I trust without indelicacy of the fact that religion in its organized form in this central point in the valley of the Hudson dates itself from the official work and effort of an ancestor of mine, a man bearing my own name. In 1656 this man was appointed by the Governor General in New York to come to this com- munity and organize a church. His official title was Voorleser a word which means curate or lay reader - perhaps that would be as correct a translation as any other. Through the efforts
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Rev. J. G. Van Slyke, D. D.
of this individual the First Dutch Church of Kingston was organized and the way was prepared for the coming of the first clergyman from Holland, Hermanus Blom. On the 12th of September 1656 he preached his first sermon. So far as the mother church paved the way and diffused an atmosphere which nourished these various organizations which now minister to this community, I may come here to night and claim a peculiar privilege in bringing you my blessing, for in the name of your mother church, with which I feel peculiarly identified, I may stretch my hands over the churches in this community and claim them as children. Some of them have changed in respect to ecclesiastical and theological complexion, and do not closely resemble the mother, but still they are all good looking.
I need scarcely refer to the fact that between the Dutch church and the Presbyterian Church there exists a peculiar tie of affinity. In point of government we are identical; our govern- ment is that of a representative Democracy, or government by presbytery or elders. In the matter of doctrine we are funda- mentally alike, and so far as I can apprehend, the only element of difference is physiological rather then ecclesiastical - in our church the Dutch blood is thickest. It may be a task to trace it out upon the geography, but it will be discovered that the Dutch Church runs along the lines where the Dutch blood is thickest. But we like the Dutch blood. It is thick blood but it is rich blood. It is almost one of the virtues with us, to be proud of our Dutch blood, and so to-night I feel like standing up for the Dutch. See what children we have. A friend of mine having married found himself in a difference with his wife in regard to the question as to whether they should have a stove in their sleeping room. He wanted it cold and she wanted it hot, and after much discussion they agreed to settle the matter by a compromise. He meekly told me afterwards that they had compromised on a stove. If these two churches of ours should ever be blended by organic fusion on the basis of a compromise I think I can assure you that we will compromise 7 .
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on the Dutch. We generally do. And yet we love and admire the Presbyterian Church, perhaps it may be said a little more than any other. In the sense in which we have not made good the claim, it has become distinctively an American Church. I think there are in the Presbyterian Church certain elements which afford me the basis for a very confident prophecy that this church is to be the dominant church of the United States. In a recent visit I made across the continent I was impressed with the fact as I passed through the cities of the West to San Francisco that the Presbyterian Church was the church which somehow seemed to dominate those cities. This church I believe holds a larger share of the brain and of the consecrated wealth of America, certainly in proportion to its numbers, than any other. If you should untertake to count up the figures, and name the scholars and the silent men who are potent in framing public opinion in this country, I think you would be surprised to find how large a proportion of them were identified with this church. There is about this Presbyterian church an element of virility. It is carrying its flag to the very front in the contest against all forms of tyranny, and in the battle which is waging against the evils of the world, it never trails that flag in the dust before tyranny or before superstition ; and so we have a laudable reason for our prayers, and a basis for our prophecy.
I do not wish to surfeit you here to-night, and the clock warns me I must not. When I look around and behold your prosperity and your life, shall I speak of that which greets my eyes and shall I withhold my gratitude unto Him in whom lies all our strength ? May the present vantage ground of achieve- ment and prosperity and of vigor afford you a starting point for splendid growth and influence in the future ; but that growth and that influence must be found where it has been found in the past, in your zeal, in your self-sacrifice and in your earnest- ness. Gird yourselves anew in that spirit and a splendid in- heritance is yours. May God bless you.
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Rev. E. S. Osbon, D. D.
Rev. Dr. MAGEE - The benediction which has been given to us is about the best I have received in some time. It fills a lack in the exercises. I have wanted to feel the influence of the noble men and what they did in the past, yet it seemed to elude me. But when we have had the mother of us give us her blessing, it gives what we cannot well dispense with. When Dr. Van Slyke talked of the rare, original Dutch blood I felt rather disturbed, for though my name would not indicate it, yet I claim a share in that blood, and if it were not for the danger of making a combination like the hills of Scotland and the dykes of Holland, it is possible I might have called myself Von Magee. But the incongruity would be revealed ; you could not hide it. But I can be proud of the blood of two races ; and while we have the recollection of the speech of the Dutch, it gives me an equally great pleasure to welcome a representative of one of the greatest characters that the ages have produced, whose influence moulds a very large proportion of the English-speaking race, that can claim a full share of honor, let what other churches may be named, and I shall be glad to listen to the words of Dr. Osbon, a right royal fol- lower of John Wesley.
Rev. E. S. OSBON, D. D., made the following remarks : I feel as though I ought to be humbled, and I almost feel guilty for several things. First, because I am not a Dutch- man. Dr. Van Slyke will remember a little set-to we had on that subject up in Kingston. Then I feel humbled because I am not a Presbyterian, and almost guilty. Then, thirdly, be- cause I do not live in Rondout. Hope has never let me aim so high as that. I once lived in this vicinity ; I lived at Eddy- ville. That is where they used to break in the young Metho- dist ministers, and they thought if a young fellow could go through a turn at Eddyville he was prepared to take any other hardship that might come. And since that time I have been allowed, in very great kindness, to live in one of the suburbs of Rondout-that is, as you folks down here would say -
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yet it can hardly be said that I can look up toward Rondout, because I have to look down; but when I start from home to come this way they say I am going up-town. I don't know how it works; I cannot understand it.
But I have a few sober things to say. It was nominated in the bond that we were not to talk over five minutes. I have no reminiscences of this community of my own, but I can remember the time when such a gathering as this to-night could not be possible in certain localities, where different de- nominations are represented on the same platform and all extend their cordial greetings to another denomination. Since I was born in the Methodist church, my father was threatened with trial, or at least with charges, on the part of the mem- bers of the church of which he was pastor, because he was seen walking arm in arm with the pastor of the Episcopal church; and the pastor of the Congregational church was threatened because he started a singing school with Dr. Osbon, the Methodist minister. I state these incidents to present a contrast ; and here is something that impressed me a little. In the Methodist church, Mr. Thompson made the statement a short time since that from 1838 to 1841, when my father could not walk with Dr. Taylor, and the Congregational minister could not start a singing school with Mr. Osbon, the Presbyterian church of this place gave us the privilege of worshiping in their lecture-room free of cost, except light and fuel. I do not wonder you have so many good-looking men and women about you. You must have had good-looking fathers and mothers, and they must have been remarkably good people to do such a thing as that. They were way ahead of their time, and I don't wonder that the ladies gave us such a magnificent reception in the other room. They were worthy daughters of worthy fathers and mothers. I say this to your credit to-night, and it is perfectly fitting that as a representa- tive of the Methodist church I should stand here and make these acknowledgments.
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Rev. A. K. Fuller.
Another thing I wish to say. You have achieved grand things. Your history has been read here to night. This splendid edifice in which we find ourselves to-night shows that very plainly. Your number at this time certainly shows this, but I want to say to you that your success is our success ; we share in it. I believe the success of any branch of the Christian Church in any corner of this wide word is the success of other churches in another corner of the world. We can meas- ure our own success by the success of our neighbors, and our neighbors owe something to us and to the share of our suc- cess. I believe that to be a great general truth. So to-night we rejoice with you in your success because in that measure it is our success, and we give you a hearty greeting, and pray for the common cause that your success may be multiplied a great many fold. We wish you a hearty God-speed.
Rev. DR. MAGEE-Almost all the prominent denominations have had their origin, in some way, connected with some great name, but there is one church which had origin in connection with an idea or a doctrine. The representatives of that doctrine have filled the land ; the most numerous de- . nomination in America, I think. I know the challenge is given by the Methodists, but I believe the Baptists have the better of it. I have the pleasure of introducing to you the representative of the Baptist church who will make a five- minute speech to you at this time.
Rev. A. K. FULLER, of the Rondout Baptist church, spoke as follows : The Doctor forgot John the Baptist when he spoke of the Baptist church starting from an idea. I believe he lived in bible times. You have heard the broad and short of it. I suppose you want to hear from the long of it. You won't however hear a very long speech from me. I am very glad indeed to stand here for myself and my church and speak a word of greeting to you. I always feel at home among Pres- byterians. Down in my heart there is great love for Presby-
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terians ; I think if I had not been a Baptist I should have been a Presbyterian.
I am very glad to speak a word of greeting to you for three reasons, first, because of the pleasant relations between the pastor of this Church and myself. There is a great difference between Dr. Magce and myself. You all know that he is a handsome man, and I have never had that compliment given to me very often. Then too the Doctor is a young man, and I am younger. Then the Doctor preaches short sermons and I preach shorter ones. Then too the Doctor knows a great deal, and I know but little. Then too I have a very pleasant home and something in it that the Doctor has not got. Notwithstanding all these differences we get along splendidly.
I am very glad to speak a word of greeting for another rea- son, because of the very friendly relations between this church and mine. Sometimes when I am shaking hands with a Presbyterian I cannot tell by the hand-shake but that he might be a Baptist. When I first came to this place, among those who greeted ine the most kindly and cordially were the members of the Presbyterian church. And I think sometimes they greeted me with even more fervor than my own people, and I have had in my short experience here, probably what has hap- pened in other churches but not in my experience, and what I hope may happen often, and what I may be permitted to return again ; I have had the pastor of this church and different mem- bers of this church come to me and give me the names of certain persons they had met that were inclined to worship at my church that I did not know, and told me they thought I could influ- ence them and asked me to go and see them. That is what I call christianity. I should be ashamed of myself, if I were able, if I should not return the compliment. First let us be christians and then let us be sectarians. Daniel Webster said, not liberty first and union afterward but liberty and union, and I say to-night christianity first and denomination second. I hope the day is past, and past forever, when christians of the same general faith cannot meet together ; and I hope the day
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Rev. A. K. Fuller.
has come when christians shall stand shoulder to shoulder against the common enemy, and that it will ever be.
And I am right glad to stand here and speak a word for another reason, and that is because of the high esteem in which I hold the great Presbyterian church of America, certainly one of the most powerful and most influential of the agents of the visible church. What a record the Presbyterian church has had in this country. What names are connected with that church and what a work has she done. I love the Presbyterian church because of her true conservatism, I mean progressive conserva- tism. Of course we Baptists think we are not so conservative. The aesthetic, rose-water people find very little company in the Presbyterian church, and I am very glad that it finds very little there too. I love this Presbyterian church for another reason, and that is because she labors for the future. Her work is a work which shall last because, I may say, she has a stalwart faith ; and with earnest heart she takes hold of the great God, and makes broad the foundations that she builds on that faith. We Baptists think she don't build quite broad enough ; don't go over the water far enough, yet I think that the Presbyterian church not only builds on a broad foundation but builds an upright structure, and that is what we want in our christianity, not only solid foundations but an upright structure that shall stand parallel with the eternal truth.
Now let me add a word -- for if I continue talking much longer you will think I am a Presbyterian - that with all the honesty and fervor and sympathy of my heart, on behalf of myself and my own people I say to you, good Presbyterian workers, co- laborers in the common cause of spreading the truth of Jesus Christ, I give you a most cordial greeting to-night, and pray God you may have in the future even greater success than you have had in the past. May you love the truth as you have loved it ; may you stand by the Christ as you have stood by Him. May the Lord's presence rest upon you, and when you or your children gather together to celebrate the Centennial,
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that you will have a larger house than this, and a record even better than this.
Rev. Dr. MAGEE- I count it a peculiar gratification to- night that we have another representative in these brief little speeches. One of the great divisions of the Christian Church which is strong in all its social interests, careful and correct in its theological tenets, and which worships with the grand old liturgies that are fragrant with the visions and prayers of all the past, has a representative with us who speaks in the name of the great Episcopal church of the United States, which wields an influence that no one can measure. It is an especial gratification that we may have an Episcopal clergyman speak a few words on this occasion. I have the pleasure of intro- ducing Rev. Mr. Washburn of the Episcopal church of this city.
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