USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Honesdale > History of the First Presbyterian society of Honesdale > Part 27
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urging the matter, which were sent to the principal of the schools, and the influence of the session was exerted to that end. The whole town will be benefitted when all the children are taught to sing.
In connection with joyful sounds, it is fitting to mention the old twelve pounder cannon, that was brought to Honesdale to help celebrate the running of the Stourbridge Lion in 1829. This was justly considered a notable event and it was properly celebrated by the booming of cannon, but Alvah Adams lost an arm as one of the results. This cannon, known as the "Baby Waker," seemed to belong to the town thereafter, and did ser- vice for both of the political parties in celebrating victories, besides waking patriotic echoes on 4th of July morning, arous- ing the farmer boys from their dreams, for twenty miles around. Dreams that had brightened life during the year, of the one day when they could go free and enjoy a dinner in the woods with their youthful companions. During the war patriotic emotions were stirred by its thunder tones. Benjamin Loris lost an arm also by its premature discharge, and about 1877 it burst from an overcharge. Its reverberating sounds float down the corridors of time and awaken memories in the hearts of many of joyful days long since agone.
MISCELLANEOUS.
March 9, 1850, Benjamin C. Baldwin, Frederick E. Tracy Horace C. Hand, Henry B. Hyde, Edwin F. Torrey and H. O. Hamlin joined the church. It is seldom that as many strong men join any church at one time as these men proved to be. Mr. Baldwin was superintendent of the Sunday school at one time. He was a surveyor by occupation and removed to Min- nesota where he still lives at an advanced age. Frederick E. Tracy married Anna Lord and removed to Mansfield, O., where he became a wealthy merchant and had some prominence. H. O. Hamlin was for many years a merchant in Honesdale. Messrs. Hand and *Torrey are prominently connected with the
*Note. E. F. Torrey entered the Honesdale National Bank as cashier, September 14, 1874. The date, 1876, given on page 211, is a typographical error.
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Honesdale Banks and Henry B. Hyde was largely instrumental in establishing the Equitable Life Insurance Company of New York, which has grown to such great proportions. His father, Henry H. Hyde, was associated with C. C. Graves in the mer- cantile business in a store which stood just north of the Dela- ware and Hudson freight depot, and Henry B. Hyde clerked in this store. None of his schoolmates ever dreamed that he would become the head of such an immense financial concern as the Equitable Life Insurance Company.
Among the notable women who have been connected with the church Miss Caroline Scott must not be forgotten. When the Honesdale Bank was established in 1836, John Neal, of the Moyamensing Bank, of Philadelphia, was appointed cashier, and became one of the trustees of the church. He resigned as cashier October 31, 1842, and went to Hawley, where he erected a building covered with sheet iron, which he designed for bank- ing purposes, but it was a failure. He had two daughters who were reared in refinement. One was the wife of Rev. J. W. Scott, of Mount Pleasant, O., and Anna became the wife of John F. Lord.
Carrie and Lizzie Scott were frequent visitors at Hones- dale, at their grandparents' and their aunt's. As a result of acquaintance from these visits, Russel F. Lord married Lizzie Scott for his second wife. While Carrie was visiting her sister, Benjamin Harrison visited Honesdale to see his future bride. R. F. Lord made a large party in his honor to which the society people of the town were invited. Mr. Harrison was afterward a distinguished elder of the Presbyterian church, United States Senator and President of the United States. After the death of his first wife he married hier niece, Mrs. Mary Scott Dim- mick, a daughter of Russel Lord's by his wife Lizzie Scott.
John F. Lord, who married Anna Neal, was a trustee of the church and a man of prominence in Honesdale along with his brothers Russel and Solomon for many years. He took con- tracts to load boats on the canal and had a competence. He resided where the Petersens' now reside, on Church street. He
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was six feet tall, a Colonel as aid to Governor W. F. Packer, and, generally speaking, was a society man of convivial habits. But his conviviality went too far and the tide of success turned. He moved on to a farm near Cajaw Pond where his wife became blind and where she died. After her death he went to Port Jervis where he lived a lonely life on the mountains. A writer said at the time of his death: "In picturesque Laurel Grove cemetery, at Port Jervis, John F. Lord, the recluse of Rio,' was buried, with his son Edward F., the only mourner." He built a log cabin on the mountain side in the wilderness where he lived with his books. One day when he was gone his cabin burned down with his precious books, the loss of which he never ceased to mourn as long as he lived. He died July 24, 1902, aged 87 and his hair had retained its raven blackness and his eyesight was undimmed. When he was dying his physicians offered him liquor which he had not tasted during the thirty years of his life of a recluse. He protested, piteously saying: "Don't give me whiskey, I've had more than enough of that in my life. Take it away." After the war both Russel F. and John F. Lord became intemperate and separated from their wives. Russel died and John became a recluse upon the mountains.
Two of the marriages of R. F. Lord's daughters were elope- ments. Anna E. eloped with Frederick E. Tracy and Mary Scott eloped with Walter, son of Hon. S. E. Dimmick. The latter was forgiven and is now widow Harrison, but the former was not forgiven so readily, neither did Mr. Lord cease to re- gard Rev. E. O. Ward with disfavor for having performed the ceremony. The three Lord brothers were conspicuous men in Honesdale in their days of business activity, but clouds over- shadowed the lives of two of them towards life's ending.
Rev. J. W. Scott, the father of Lizzie Scott Lord and Caro- line Lovina Harrison, supplied the pulpit in Honesdale for six months at one time, and he preached here at various times and taught the Bible class.
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SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
W. B. Holmes, clerk of the session, makes the following note: "In accordance with the appointment of the Rev. W. H. Swift, D. D. committee, he arranged an excellent program. With characteristic modesty, which increases with age, he assigned the most important parts to others and left himself in the back- ground; while not on the throne he was the power behind the throne and to him was largely due the success of all the exer- cises." The exercises were held February 21, 1904, in the church. The church was handsomely trimmed with evergreens and potted palms and ferns. The pulpit was covered with the American flag and the names of the nine original members were garlanded in evergreens about the organ loft. The church decorations were made under the skillful management of Mrs. Andrew Thompson, with other ladies of the church, whose good taste in such matters has been manifested on many occasions. Dr. Swift presided in the morning, opening the exercises with prayer and introducing the speakers with kindly compliments that left nothing that was necessary unsaid. R. M. Stocker gave the historical address and Hon. Alfred Hand, of Scranton, spoke very feelingly of his connection with the Honesdale Pres- byterian Sunday school and church, with which he was con- nected until he was 18 years of age. He ascribed whatever success he may have attained in life largely to the influences of his early training under the church. He spoke very highly of Rev. Dr. Rowland and also mentioned R. L. Seely, father of Hon. H. M. Seely, who was a very jovial man. He had a play- ful disposition and would let all the boys pile up on top of him, then he would rise up like a giant and throw them off. He was however a conscientious and good man. He spoke very highly of Judge Seely, who was a classmate of his at Yale Col- lege and they were both elected Judges about the same time. In the afternoon, in the Sunday school, the regular lessons were postponed and interesting talks were given by ex-Superintend- ents W. B. Holmes, Andrew Thompson and D. L. Hower. The speakers gave interesting accounts of persons with whom they
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had been associated during the time they had been connected with the school. The evening session of the anniversary exer- cises was a laity meeting in which the various Protestant churches were represented. On the rostrum were Reverends Swift, Place, Walker, Ware and Behrens, of the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal and Lutheran churches, re- spectively; with them were the speakers, Hon. F. P. Kimble, representing the Baptist church, Homer Greene, representing the Episcopal church, W. W. Baker, with the address of M. E. Simons, of the Methodist church, and James H. Torrey, who greeted the church in the name of his ancestor, Jason Torrey. An interesting letter full of reminiscences, which is published elsewhere, from Thomas H. Dickson, of St. Paul, Minn., was read by Rev. Dr. W. H. Swift, after which in a highly compli- mentary speech he introduced W. B. Holmes as president of the meeting. Mr. Holmes was equal to the occasion, speaking with a dignity and grace that left nothing to be desired.
Mr. Kimble esteemed it "a privilege and a gratification to join with this congregation in the public celebration of the completion of a triumph- aut epoch in the history of this church. Seventy-five years are but a brief span in the Christian era, but measured by the period of man's activity, they embrace the hopes, struggles and successes of more than three gener- ations. During this epoch the church has experienced great and important changes. Important events have transpired. Many noble men and women who were among its early founders have passed away. * * Naught re- mains of them but their works, and these will remain until all God's workers are gathered home. This church with its magnificent temporal structures, with its strong bond of brotherhood, with its helpful social organizations, and with its spiritual aggregation, is but the collective result of mighty efforts and determined purposes. In all its departments it stands out to- night as a crowning memorial to God's promise that the consecrated work of His people shall never go unrewarded. It is therefore a happy reflection for us on this anniversary occasion to recall the unselfish devotion, the un- tiring zeal and the Christian fortitude of those early workers amid the trials and efforts incident to the establishment of a new Christian organization. Men and woman were they of stable habits, business integrity and exem- plary character, whose commerce in the world always imported verity, and whose words and acts have made them as shining lights set upon a hill."
Mr. Simons said : "It affords me great pleasure to be here to-night and see this large congregation, composed, I believe, of members from all the different churches of Honesdale, assembled for the purpose of commemorat-
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ing the establishment of the first church of our town, and to do honor to the memory of its organizers. As a Methodist I gladly join our brothers of different relationships in bringing greetings to this anniversary occasion. I congratulate you as a church on the prosperity and success which has come to you as the result of earnest, conscientious, self-sacrificing work of Christian men and women during the seventy-five years of your existence. I wish you God speed in the great work which lies before you. Your battle is just begun. With no disparagement of the good work of the past I still believe there is a far greater future in store for you. Your pastor in in- viting me to be present on this occasion said, 'Our church during this month passes its seventy-fifth milestone.' Now I believe it would be better to have these milestones along the pathways of our several churches, closer together, if they be used as occasions for retrospection aud the getting together of the different denominations of the Christian church and the making of more cordial alliances for working purposes. They will serve at least as reminders, which we sometimes need, that we belong to the same great army, in different divisions, it is true, but united in a common cause for a common purpose. We rally around the same standard, the blood- stained banner of the cross. * Anniversaries are much given to re- trospection, and at such times, in fancy, we again travel the roads our fathers trod, and we read again the story of their lives, their struggles and privations, their successes and failures. Your own historian, our brother, Mr. Stocker, this morning told you of the early days of your church, which was not so very long ago as we usually count time. It was not Ancient History for you are only seventy-five years old, less than the span of some lives. I doubt not there are some within the sound of my voice who lived before the foundations of your church were laid. It was not long ago, measured in years, when a few earnest Christian people met in the old Tabernacle and organized the Presbyterian church, and at the same time a few followers of John Wesley, without a church, met for prayer and class- meetings in the homes of the members. So short a time, yet what wondrous changes it has wrought."
Homer Greene, when called upon by Mr. Holmes, spoke somewhat as follows : It is certainly a sincere pleasure to me to participate with you in the exercises of this evening. More than that I feel especially gratified that my profession has been so signally honored in the choice of speakers for this anniversary occasion. A former Justice of our Supreme Court and a prominent member of our bar spoke from this pulpit this morning. This evening the addresses are from the lawyers. Surely no one can say after this that both the law and gospel have not been expounded from this pul- pit. And yet it is but just that the bar should be honored on this occasion ; for, within my own time and memory, I know that the lawyers have been among the pillars of this church, and that the benign influence of those long dead is still with you. I remember George Waller and his work here I remember George Bentley, a strong, gracious and attractive personality, and how he labored for this church and in its Sunday school. And I re- member Judge Seely, than whom no man ever showed forth in his daily life
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more of the spirit which should actuate a follower of the Divine Master, than did he. He was a Christian gentleman. For six years I was in his class in the Sunday school. During the same six years I was in his office as student and practicing attorney and during all that time I never saw him do one thing, in his office, on the street, in his home, that was not absolutely consistent with that which he taught in his class in the Sunday school, or with the best ideals of a Christian life. It was such men as he that made this church, and it was this church that made such men as he. If there is one thing more than another for which I commend this church it is that you have made it, not only a place in which to come together and sing hymns and exhort and pray, but you have made it also a center from which radiate intellectual culture, social enjoyment, human sympathy, practical helpfulness and Christian charity through all the streets and all the homes of the community.
James H. Torrey, elder in the Second Presbyterian church at Scranton, lawyer, and a descendant of the Torrey family that came into this county more than one hundred years ago, was introduced for the next address. He said that Jason Torrey walked from Massachusetts westward into the wilderness as far as Wayne county in quest of a new location as early as 1793. After looking the territory over he went back to Massachusetts, but five years later returned to Wayne county with his bride, went to work with courage and energy, with both of which they were richly endowed, to make their home in the wilds of this region. Jason Torrey owned the greater part of the present site of Honesdale but spent only the last few years of his life in our town. The influence of Jason Torrey and descend- ants upon the people and interests centering in Honesdale institutions has been far reaching for good.
The following is the letter from Thomas H. Dickson which was read by Dr. Swift:
My first association with the Honesdale church was as a Sabbath school scholar in Joseph Gustin's class. That was in 1846 or 1847.
The "Old Tabernacle," as it was called, was then standing and in pretty good condition, but had long since been abandoned as a place of worship and was used for storage of hay, etc. We met in the church and, at that time or later on, used the Union Question Book, published, I well remember, at No. 9, Cornhill, Boston, and as was announced on the cover, "Two Million Five Hundred Thousand copies" had been sold. Most of the boys erased part of this sentence, making it read, "Two million five hundred thousand pies sold" and found much sport in the revision.
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Stephen Torrey was our superintendent, and as energetic and diligent in his duties as in every thing he undertook. We sang the regular church tunes and I never hear "Brattle Street" or "Armenia" without recalling those early experiences. Mr. Gustin went to California, Frederick L. Chapman, another of the teachers, accompanying him. He met the fate of thou- sands of others who flocked to the new Eldorado and perished of Chagre's fever. Mr. Chapman survived and returned to Honesdale, where he resided for several years and then re- moved to Neenah, Wis.
Our next teacher was Miss Frances Rowland, a sister of the pastor, and I have very pleasant recollections of her. Pro- fessor Sparrow, of the Academy, followed her and was a faith- ful instructor to us. Among those in the class was Edward R. Sill, a nephew of Doctor Rowland, a pale, thoughtful looking boy of unusual mental endowments, which he subsequently manifested in the composition of poems which have given his name much celebrity.
Franklin Seely was also my teacher for a time.
Doctor Rowland, our pastor, was a man of ardent temper- ament and impulsive spirit but with an attractive personality, genial disposition and lovable nature. He enjoyed outdoor life and found much pleasure in fishing. He had a delightful family of five daughters and one son, the latter attaining high rank as a scientist before his death which occurred a few years since. The doctor was strongly attached to the church of his fathers and had small room for what he regarded as the intoler- ance of the prelatical clergy. The columns of the Honesdale Democrat of that time will be found to contain quite a vigorous controversy between him and Rev. Richard B. Duane, the rector of the Episcopal church. Feeling between them ran quite high and I shall never forget an episode resulting from it. Both congregations held service on Sabbath afternoon, the Presby- terians at 3 o'clock and the Episcopalians at 3:15, the latter meeting temporarily in the Court House while their church was building. The ringing of the Court House bell greatly annoyed
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Dr. Rowland, who imagined that it was an intentional disturb- ance, and he endured it with much difficulty. Finally it proved intolerable and on one Sabbath, as the bell continued to ring, he abruptly terminated the service while reading the Scriptures and dismissed the congregation with a hasty benediction. He was a gifted writer and published several excellent books, one of which I recall by reason of its quaint title which was, "A Light In A Dark Alley." After a long pastorate he accepted a call to one of our churches in Newark, N. J., the people acqui- escing with much regret.
Rev. Thomas H. Skinner, Jr., whose father, with Lyman Beecher, Thornton A. Mills and Albert Barnes were New School leaders, was Dr. Rowland's successor, and I united with the church under his ministry. He was an uncompromising Cal- vinist and a staunch defender of the doctrines of grace as set forth in the Confession of Faith, I became strongly attached to him and joined with a number of others in a public endorse- ment of his views and in sustaining him in what was regarded by some as an ultra conservative position. He resigned after serving about two years and accepted a call to a Dutch Reformed church on Staten Island, subsequently becoming a member of the faculty of McCormick Theological Seminary, where he re- mained until his death. He was a man of unusual intellectual ability, and strong convictions, inflexible in his views of the truth, but a delightful companion, and a generous and whole- souled Christian minister.
The session of my youth was composed of Colonel Seely, Stephen Torrey, Adonijah Strong, Stephen D. Ward, John P. Darling and William Reed, men of Godly character and upright lives. It was with much fear and foreboding that I appeared before them as a candidate for membership, notwithstanding they were, without exception, men of kindly instincts and genial disposition. Colonel Seely especially, though quite mature in years, had the heart of a boy and enjoyed fun as much as any- body. I have always felt a keen sympathy with young folks coming before a session that I was a member of, recollecting
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my own trepidation under similar circumstances.
My father sang for some time in the choir, which occupied the gallery opposite the pulpit, and I was permitted, with a number of the other boys, to occupy a seat near by. I remem- ber very distinctly Major Tracy and Mr. Penniman, also Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Russel Lord as other members of the choir. Ezra Genung sang with them occasionally and I think Mr. Woodhouse did also. Fredrick Chapman aided and Professor Charles N. Todd, of the Academy, for a long time served as leader and very acceptably.
The hymn book used was called "Parish Psalmody," a peculiar feature of which consisted of little marks and letters adjoining the verses, indicating whether loud tones or mild should be used in singing. The "Carmina Sacra" was the favorite tune book, though I recall the "Shawm" and the "Can- tica Laudis," also the "Mendelssohn Collection." The congre- gation were in the habit of rising and turning about with their backs to the pulpit, so as to face the choir, until Mr. Skinuer came, when by the use of some persuasion and a little tact, he induced the people to discontinue the apparent discourtesy and face the pulpit instead.
My earliest recollection of the instrumental part of the music is associated with a number of brass pieces, such as trom- bones, etc., played by young men of the congregation, who were under the instruction of Professor Littlewood, and who subse- quently formed themselves into an organization called "The Silver Cornet Band" which gained high repute for excellent music. Henry Seely, Miles Tracy and Jason Torrey were among those who belonged to this band.
When the Hutchinson family, the "Continentals," or the "Baker Brothers" made their annual visits to the town, they usually came to our church, if they remained over Sabbath, and assisted in the music, greatly to the delight of the congrega- tion, and especially of the young folks, who listened to them with great admiration. George Baker's remarkable basso pro- fundo voice, in particular, was something that we considered
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marvelous. I have a pleasant recollection of the literary en- tertainments that were given during the winter in our church, notably lectures by Rev. Dr. Robert Baird, of the American and Foreign Christian Union, Bayard Taylor, and Professor Youmans, the celebrated chemist, whose disclosures by means of the Calcium light made buckwheat batter appear one mass of wriggling animation.
I have always been glad that my early years were spent in Honesdale and in the wholesome atmosphere that prevaded the town and which was largely attributable to the influence of the Presbyterian church. It was, it is true, not congenial to my perverse nature and I was often restive under it, but whatever usefulness I have attained in life has resulted in a large measure from it. The careful observance of the Sabbath in particular, made a profound impression on my youthful mind which can never be effaced. All business was entirely suspended, the cars of coal remained untouched on the tracks, no amusement was indulged in and there was a general recognition of the Lord's Day.
May God's blessing rest upon the dear old church of my childhood and make it the spiritual birthplace and nursery of multitudes of immortal souls in the years to come.
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