USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Honesdale > History of the First Presbyterian society of Honesdale > Part 12
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their first Sunday school, which drew off about one hundred of the Mission school. The Lutheran school was organized Janu- ary 1, 1869, and this took away about one hundred and fifty scholars and four teachers. In January, 1871, the Seelyville Sabbath school was organized by John T. Ball, and the scholars from that neighborhood, to the number of about one hundred, withdrew to attend there. Notwithstanding these and other severe drafts made upon the school by the removal from town of families, etc., still the work moved on quietly yet surely up to today, at which time there is a present membership of one hundred and ten scholars and fifteen officers and teachers. The primary department, under the superintendence of Mrs. Snyder, has, since 1875, increased from thirty-four to as high as ninety in one year, and at present numbers sixty. In all there have been over 2,000 scholars and 150 teachers connected with the school during the twenty-one years."
In 1864 the school became so crowded that it was found necessary to remove to Liberty Hall for more ample accommo- dations, where it remained till 1868, when an arrangement was made with Coe F. Young, manager of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, whereby the school was located on Main street in the old Watts building which stood about where the Town Hall now stands. The school was maintained by means of con- certs, subscriptions, etc. The singing was a prominent feature in the development of the school, Superintendent Snyder secur- ing the best talent available. The first musical director was Prof. Ludwig who was at that time organist of the church. When he removed from town in 1865, Mr. Snyder secured John E. Richmond, of Carbondale, to clerk in his store and take charge of the singing. Mr. Richmond trained the children not only for Sunday school singing but for a number of concerts, cantatas, etc. which were held in Liberty Hall. As many as four hundred children were arranged on the stage, singing to overflowing houses. Dr. Dunning in requesting the repetition of one of these cantatas said, "It was the grandest and most in- spiring Sunday school singing that I ever listened to." On a
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program of the ninth anniversary the following officers and teachers are mentioned: Isaiah Snyder, superintendent; John E. Richmond, secretary and musical director; Frank B. Brown, librarian; Miss Josephine Coryell, organist. The teachers were E. T. Beers, C. M. Scott, S. G. Cory, U. V. Wheeler, Leland Stearns, W. H. Stanton, John Torrey, Jr., James B. Eldred, Thomas Tracy. J. B. Lisk, L. R. Fowler, Mesdames E. Bassett, George Conselman, Charles Myers, S. G. Cory, U. V. Wheeler, Isaiah Snyder, P. P. Brown, Lewis Coryell, J. B. Lisk, A. B. Lacey, C. P. Clark, John Ball, Levi McCreery, Nicholas Holt, Margaret Morgan, E. T. Beers, John Rehbein, James Pragnell, H. Kennedy, M. V. Booth, Horace Weston, Nancy E. Tillou, Barbara Reif, Misses Emma McCarter, Susan Bassett, Maria McCreery, H. Hamlin, Jeannette Loud, Abbie J. Manning, M. C. Field, Mary Heath, A. E. Marsh, Louise Stearns, Elizabeth Pearn, Lydia Marsh, Sarah VanKirk, Mary Raish, Lucy Sher- wood, Charity Preston. Officers and teachers, fifty-three; schol- ars, over four hundred. The ex-officio board of trustees were Rev. G. C. Bird, Episcopal, Rev. C. S. Dunning, Presbyterian, Rev. W. J. Judd, Methodist, Rev. H. B. Garner, Baptist, Rev. W. F. Helfer, Lutheran and I. Snyder. The trustees that were elected by the school were Elias T. Beers, Stephen G. Cory, George N. Snyder, C. M. Scott and U. V. Wheeler. Later, Thomas Crossley, John R. Brown, J. Adam Reitenauer, Joshua Brown, Fred Brown, W. H. Lee, J. E. Richmond, Mrs. W. T. Moore and Kate Erk taught in the school.
Mr. Snyder in his address said the pastors of the several evangelical churches in the borough have, without exception, been ever warm friends of the school from its very beginning and with counsel and help, in times and ways without number, have strengthened and materially aided the superintendent and teachers in their work.
After Mr. Snyder left the town the school was continued for about three years. Other schools had been organized and finally, by vote of the school, it voluntarily disbanded about 1883.
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Mr. Ball says he always kept before the school the impor- tance of evangelistic work. Among those attending this school for a few years until he was about 12 years old, was Henry A. Eisner, and by his gifts he has returned to bless the school. In 1891 the Christian Endeavor Society, which is an outgrowth of the Sunday school, started a Christian Endeavor chapel ac- count in the Wayne County Savings Bank. Mr. Eisner added to this fund from year to year sums varying from $50 to $150 a year, thereby stimulating local effort until in 1901 when active operations were begun to erect a chapel. The trustees were Gustave Smith, George Erk, Chauncy Purdy, Robert Ransom, Lillie G. Eno, Alice W. Birdsall and Jessie Olver, and John Erk and W. L. Ferguson were added, constituting all as abuild- ing committee. The latter did not act but the others went for- ward and erected a neat chapel at a cost of about $3,500, R. H. Brown contractor. Mr. Eisner contributed in all about $1,- 000 and there is a debt of about $500. It is a Union chapel and services are held in it conducted by the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and Episcopal ministers.
The officers and teachers of the Sunday school at present, are superintendent, J. A. Bodie; assistant superintendents, W. J. Ward, Lillian G. Eno, Mrs. B. F. Polley; secretary, Flora E. Ferguson; treasurer, Willard J. Birdsall; organist, Louise M. Smith; assistant organists, Jessie Robinson and Mary Hol- land; librarians, B. F. Polley and Peter Kolmus; superintend- ent primary department, Emma Birdsall; assistant superintend- ent, Susie Eigler; treasurer, Lizzie Dunkelberg; organist, Abbie Erk. The teachers are W. J. Ward, Lillie G. Eno, Mrs. E. Holland, Louise M. Smith, Alice W. Birdsall, Isabel Birdsall, Jessie Olver, Bertha Hawkey, Mae Erk, Almeda Smith, Mrs. B. F. Polley, Hannah Mackle, Alberta Thayer, Mrs. Henry Smith, Gus Schmidt and Emma A. Smith.
TRACYVILLE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
October 6, 1888, the session appointed R. M. Stocker, Gertrude Foster, Mr. Schremser and J. A. Reitenauer a com- mittee to investigate and report upon the advisability of organ-
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izing a Sunday school at Tracyville, and January 4, 1889, the committee's report in favor of the organization of a school was presented to the session. The session appointed Judge H. M. Seely superintendent and the school was regularly opened Jan- uary 13, 1889, at 3:15 p. m., in the Tracyville school house. About forty were present who were organized into eight classes, taught by H. M. Seely, Bible class, Mrs. Gow, infant class, and the other teachers were R. M. Stocker, Miss Gertrude Foster, J. S. Pennell, W. W. Wood, Miss Cora Schremser and Adam Reitenauer. The first report showed eighty scholars and eight officers and teachers in attendance. J. S. Gillen soon became a teacher and he was faithful to the end. Judge Seely's report for 1893 showed that the school numbered ninety-five. Dur- ing all these years R. M. Stocker acted as superintendent sum- mers when Judge Seely was having his annual vacation. In 1894 the teachers were Mrs. Neimiller, Miss Katie Storms, Miss Foster, Mrs. Richarts, J. S. Pennell, Miss Addie Pethick, who was also organist, Mrs. Decker and Mary Bond. Acting Super- intendent Stocker reported one hundred and seven on the rolls of the school, the largest attendance being on flower day when ninety-eight attended and $11.05 was collected and sent to the Sunday School Extension Committee. Judge Seely made a tender address; it was the last time he attended the school, his death being on the Christmas following. Rev. W. H. Swift also addressed the school. Judge Seely took a deep interest in this school, and every year a Christmas tree was provided with presents for the children, being given largely from the Judge's pocket book. After Judge Seely's death, by request of the ses- sion, R. M. Stocker continued as superintendent until the school was closed in June, 1896. W. B. Holmes taught for a short time, also Louis Grambs and George Prentiss. July 5, 1896, the officers and teachers made a statement addressed to the ses- sion, in which they say that the Tracyville school was organized for the purpose of reaching children that did not attend any Sunday school, while many had attended the school from the beginning who were in attendance at schools in Honesdale, yet
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it had not been the policy of the school to take any pupils from the Honesdale schools to build up this school, but rather to create such a Sunday school sentiment as would lead all to at- tend some Sunday school. They concluded that the Sunday school sentiment was such that the children of Tracyville were nearly all attending Sunday school at Honesdale and while not unmindful of the good accomplished by the Sunday school in teaching the Bible, the officers and teachers of the school were of the opinion that the school was not now necessary. After deliberating on this statement the school was discontinued by the session July 12, 1896, and was followed by preaching for a time. Mrs. Tryon, Mrs. Markey, Mr. Hill, Mr. Gillen and Mrs. Martin were faithful until the last session of the school.
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CHAPTER V.
THE LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
The women of the Honesdale Presbyterian church have done their duty more faithfully than the men, probably ever since the church was organized. We can imagine that we see them dipping candles for use in the old Tabernacle, and in the care of the church and labors in the first Sunday schools they took an active part, but Paul's injunction that women should keep silent in the churches, was observed more carefully in Presbyterian churches years ago than it is now. The most active women in the early church were the three Chapman sisters, Mrs. Kirtland, Mrs. Stephen Torrey and Mrs. Ezra Hand, also there were Mrs. John Torrey, Mrs. R. L. Seely, Mrs. S. G. Cory, Mrs. Jackson Bassett, Mrs. B. B. Smith, Mrs. S. D. Ward, Mrs. Josiah Foster, Mrs. John F. Roe, Mrs. Baldwin, R. F. Lord's first wife, Mrs. John F. Lord, Mrs. Henry Stone, after she moved here and her sister, Mrs. Spear, Mrs. Horace Tracy, Mrs. Baldwin and others.
March 10, 1845, the session, after free conversation and consultation on the state of the church, resolved, "that inasmuch as there is a diversity of opinion as to the expediency of erect- ing a lecture room while the church edifice remains in its present neglected state, and as it is desirable for the spiritual
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welfare of the congregation, that in the various objects under- taken by them there should be entire unanimity, the session recommend that the attempt be for the present suspended."
The men have left a record of their resolution and the women left evidence of their work in the erection of the first lecture room which stood north of the church facing Church street. Elizabeth M. Spear, a sister of Mrs. Stone, and Mrs. Ezra Hand circulated a subscription paper and through the efforts of the women of the church a lecture room was erected. Rev. H. A. Rowland preached a sermon from Proverbs xxxi, 10: "Her price is far above rubies." This sermon had such a touch of gallantry that its publication was requested by T. H. R. Tracy, R. L. Seely, D. O. Skinner, James Dickson, I. P. Foster, C. S. Minor, F. B. Penniman, Stephen Torrey and John Torrey. In replying to this request Mr. Rowland says: "It is certainly due the ladies of our society to acknowledge their self-denying labors for the object which has been gained, and to accord to them our heartfelt thanks for the good they have accomplished." He quoted liberally Milton's great poem concluding with:
"Neither her outside formed so fair, nor ought So much delights me, as these graceful acts, These thousand decencies that daily flow From all her words and actions mixed with love."
The lecture room was dedicated in 1848 and undoubtedly the ladies of the church had some kind of an organization to carry on this work. It has been characteristic of the women of our church to do their work so quietly and without making a record of it, that many self-denying acts of many noble women will remain unmentioned, but their monument is seen in the good they have done, though we are unable now to connect their names with the work.
The first record of woman's work that has been preserved is as follows: The Ladies' Benevolent Society met according to appointment at Dr. Rowland's; present, Mrs. Crane, Mrs. Torrey, Mrs. Hand, Mrs. Weston, Mrs. Kirtland, etc., about forty ladies in all. Mrs. Crane, Miss Fannie Rowland and Miss
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Reed resigned their offices and Mrs. Kirtland was elected mod- erator, Mrs. J. F. Lord, secretary and treasurer, Mrs. H. Hand, assistant.
This record implies that there had been a previous organ- ization, but Mrs. Hand and Mrs. Richmond have no recollection of this meeting.
They decided to meet in the evening instead of the after- noon and each one was to bring her own work and pay into the treasury whatever sum she chose. At the next meeting held at Mrs. R. L. Seely's, December 27, 1855, there were present twenty-one members and Mrs. Darling, of Cherry Ridge, sent them one dollar. The society met at Mrs. Kirtland's, Mrs. James Bassett's, Mrs. Ward's, Mrs. C. P. Waller's, Mrs. Pen- niman's, Mrs. Denton's, thirty present, Mrs. J. F. Lord's, Mrs. Stephen Torrey's, Mrs. E. Hand's. At this meeting they de- cided to purchase a communion set and cushion the pastor's pew. Subsequent meetings were held at Mrs. William Reed's, Mrs. Young's, Mrs. Cummings'; then they decided to meet at different places in alphabetical order, that each person should furnish a plain tea, and a fine of five cents was imposed on any member knowing the regulations who furnished more than one kind of cake, fruit, sweetmeats, sliced or baked meats; green and black tea allowed. The society was organized principally for the promotion of Home Missions. Thus early were the women of the church engaged in Home Mission work.
When the present brick church was erected the women of the church had their hands full of work; but little record was made of it, but from the memory of persons now living it ap- pears that the church was carpeted mainly through their instru- mentality. Receipts from A. T. Stewart & Co. aggregating $2,846.06 show that the women were not idle, and the making of this carpet was no light task. In addition to this work there was an Organ Society which raised the money to purchase the organ.
During the War of the Rebellion the women of the church, along with the women of other churches, met day after day in
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the old lecture room to make shirts and scrape lint and do other work for the soldiers under direction of the Sanitary Commission. About this time Mrs. C. F. Young and Mrs. C. S. Minor collected fifty dollars for a flag. Isaac N. Foster and his wife cut the material and it was so large that they spread it out in the lecture room yard, while Mrs. Ezra Hand and Mrs. Minor arranged the stars. This was one of the largest flags ever seen in Honesdale, and it floated over the Presbyterian church for some time during the war. The ladies of the town also erected the Soldiers' Monument in 1869 and the Memorial Fountain in Central Park.
The women of the church have had suppers and have raised a large amount of money in that way. The Martha Washing- ton dinner is the most elaborate thing of that kind in the town. It was started in 1889 when Mrs. Horace C. Hand was presi- dent of the Pastor's Aid Society. It is said to have been sug- gested by Mrs. Coe F. Young .* The first one was held in the rink or opera house, which stood on Park street opposite the John Torrey homestead. The Independent gives an account as follows: "The Martha Washington dinner, given under the auspices of the ladies of the Honesdale Presbyterian church, at the opera house was one of the finest church dinners that has been given in Honesdale in many a day. The project is said to have originated with Mrs. George S. Purdy and Miss Emma C. Ward. Mrs. H. C. Hand, president of the Pastor's Aid Society, and Mrs. George F. Bentley had charge of the tables. These ladies were assisted by such ladies as Mesdames Torrey, Thompson, Durland, Rockwell, Holmes, Tracy, Rose, Jenkins, Cortright, Foster, Penniman and others. Cinderella and a min- uet under charge of Miss Anna Sutton were given in the evening. The attendance was estimated at five hundred and the receipts were $250." This was such a success and gave such satisfac- tion to the people generally that another was held on Washing-
*Horace G. Young contributes $25 annually to the dinner as a memorial to his mother.
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ton's birthday the following year in Liberty Hall. And these dinners have been followed by similar dinners every year since then in the chapel, where very complete arrangements are made for such gatherings. These annual dinners have become a time for family reunion in the congregation and town. They are very democratic and social and are attended by people of all nationalities and denominations. The attendance was so large in 1904 that notwithstanding that five hundred and fifty pounds of turkey had been provided along with other things in propor- tion, some had to go away without their dinner. The whole congregation assists and it is useless to try to distinguish who does the most. There is about one month of preparation and the whole town would be disappointed if the annual Martha Washington functions were discontinued. Besides the dinner there are booths tastefully decorated where fancy articles, candy, etc., are sold. The chapel is trimmed to produce a winter, fall or other effect. In 1904 some $800 was realized from the din- ner. An orchestra is always in attendance to enliven the scene with music and the main auditorium is used principally as a place for greeting the assembled guests of the church. The total amount realized from this source has been over $6,000 thus far.
Mrs. J. E. Richmond, treasurer of the Pastor's Aid Society, furnishes the following statement: The first payment on the chapel funds, the proceeds of dinners, suppers, fairs and enter- tainments given prior to the establishment of the Martha Wash- ington, was $1,000. The total receipts of Pastor's Aid from 1892 to 1904, $7,638.92. The society paid on the chapel debt beginning with October 11, 1890, $5,575; and on the manse since March 5, 1898, $800.02.
At the Colonial dinner, as it was called in 1905, $745 was raised. The dinner was served under direction of a caterer and the service was very satisfactory.
The following was written by Mrs. Mary F. Roe Weston:
An interesting feature of the work of the women of the church was that done in the interest of the men of our army through the Christian
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Commission, during the years of the Civil War. Almost the first expression of patriotic feeling was shown in their obtaining the fine large flag which floated from the roof of the church through years of varying fortune, in sunshine and storm, in sight of all the people of the town and surrounding country, voicing their confidence in the ultimate triumph and permanent establishment of the principles of union for the nation ; and freedom for all the inhabitants thereof. The interest and effort of one of the foremost patriotic women secured the fund which purchased it and women's hands eagerly joined the red, white and blue in our country's fair emblem of pro- tection to its loyal children upon land or sea. Then, as the conflict pro- gressed and brought the need of supplies for the march or comforts for sick and wounded men, these demands found ready response from, not only the women of our own church connections, but all brave and tender hearted women who joined in forming the Soldiers' Aid Society, and worked faith- fully and well, to give aid to every defender of our country's flag, some with the heart breaking anxieties of mothers, and wives and sisters of loved ones "gone to the war" to inspire them in the work, and some with sympathetic tenderness as if each soldier was a brother beloved, gave them- selves to the preparation of all kinds of comforts which could be thought of to aid or relieve suffering on field or in hospital, holding themselves in readiness to meet any suggestions or demands of nurses, physicians or sur- geons, and to supply all cases of special needs in emergencies as the knowl- edge of these needs might come to them, while all the time the wise heads and loving hearts were planning and preparing a supply of constantly needed articles, which were sent at frequent intervals from the Presby- terian lecture room, where the sewing was done, and delicacies were gathered, and boxes packed, whence they were shipped to the Christian Commission, the centre from which they were distributed wherever needed. In return came most appreciative acknowledgements of the rare suitable- ness of the goods sent, of the skill displayed in packing and of the cheer and comfort they brought to the soldiers themselves, who many times wished mention made and thanks sent for just what they received. This beautiful work was continued with unwearying faithfulness, as long as aid was required : its record is written on high where the majority of those who carried it on have gone to receive the approval of our Lord who said "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the suffering ye have done it unto me." The ability and energy of women had been put to the test as never before, resulting in new phases of effort on their part, leading on to their develope- ment in all the broad fields of usefulness and prominence, in which they have so proven their ability in later years.
The Sewing Society of the church felt the benefit of new methods, and stimulated by the proposed erection of a new church edifice, which was undertaken at the close of the war, entered upon a period of great activity : coming to the aid of church affairs their committee assumed the purchase of an organ, on account of which the society took the name of the "Church Organ Society." They eventually extended their generous plans to in- clude the various furnishings required to make the house of the Lord fair
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and beautiful within as becometh the place of His worship. A pleasant spirit of unanimity and zeal characterized the undertaking. War prices ruled and the outlay required in the first pews was very large. Much of self sacrifice and real devotion impelled the wise heads that planned and the skilful fingers that wrought all manner of cunning work, as in building the Tabernacle, that would increase the revenue. It meant years of patient untiring effort, but the interest in the object was very general; older and younger women did what each could best do giving time, labor and money, eagerly securing the filling of orders for the useful, pretty or decorative articles which the hands of one or another could fashion so deftly. There was always a demand for these things; for those who could not give their own work gave orders to be done, and the revolving wheels of fashion oc- casionally brings to conspicuity and value today, the pretty fancy work of the Organ Society of forty years ago. Suppers were occasionally given also to help on the work. In this connection large hearted people opened their houses for the use of the society. These suppers were always liberally patronized and helped to augment the amount. A large bank note was sometimes given as payment for a supper by an interested friend; or an old resident, remembering the effort that was being made, sent his aid. And so the fund increased, the work of the women kept pace with that of the builder. When the church was ready for furnishing, the organ, carpets and cushions were ready to be put in place. The completed edifice and furnishings represented liberal giving on the part of both men and women. There was much of sacrifice and love inwrought in every portion of the structure from the foundation to final, making it a monument to the faith- ful workers who gave themselves and their means so freely to its construc- tion.
These sacrifices of the preceding generation to erect a church, not only for themselves but for succeeding generations, should fill all our hearts with gratitude for all that has been done for us by those who have preceded us.
MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
The Honesdale Auxiliary of the Woman's Foreign Mis- sionary Society of the Presbyterian church was organized in the parlor of the parsonage, January 22, 1872. The first of- ficers were president, Mrs. S. D. Ward; vice president, Mrs. Ezra Hand; treasurer, Miss Mary E. Roe; secretary, Miss C. N. Torrey. At this first meeting six collectors were appointed to visit the ladies of the congregation and ascertain what amount would be pledged for an annual contribution. The secretary was directed to appoint another meeting after the collectors had reported to the treasurer and to prepare a notice
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