USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Honesdale > History of the First Presbyterian society of Honesdale > Part 7
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Rev. William Henry Swift, D. D., was born in Geneva, N. Y., February 2, 1848. His father, Isaac Swift, followed the profession of school teaching all the active years of his life, dying at the advanced age of 90 years. His ancestors came to Massachusetts in 1634 and his grandfather Abraham was a soldier of the Revolution. Rev. Dr. Swift's mother, Rebecca Dimmick, was also descended from Revolutionary ancestry. William's father removed to Port Jervis and taught school there three years, when he moved to Unionville, Orange county, N. Y., and taught the academy there. Here Mr. Swift prepared for college under his father's instruction and he also had some experience farming at $8 a month one summer, $12 a month the next summer. He worked forenoons, studied afternoons, and recited evenings. In the fall of 1866 he entered Amherst College and graduated in regular course in 1870; that fall he entered Union Theological Seminary from which he graduated in 1873. He went to Wilkesbarre before Memorial church was organized and was ordained and installed its first pastor May 7, 1874, where he remained ten years. May 7, 1884, he was installed pastor of Honesdale Presbyterian church, a position which he still holds, his pastorate being the longest in the his- tory of the church. He has a brother, Rev. Isaac Swift, who is pastor of the church at East Syracuse, N. Y. In 1902 La- fayette College conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon Mr. Swift. Mr. Swift was married November 20, 1873, to Eliza Jane Watson, daughter of Col. Watson. She died August 20, 1902, and June 7, 1904, he married Emma C. Ward, daugh- ter of S. D. Ward. Two of his children died in infancy; the living children are Bessie, Edith, William, Walter and Katrina. Dr. Swift's pastorate has been very successful. The church
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has prospered under his ministry spiritually and financially. He is not particularly strong in apologetics. He believes the Bible and preaches it without asking any apology for so doing, consequently he spends very little time demonstrating that the Bible is true. He assumes that most men admit the truths taught in the Bible, but what they need is an awakening to their sense of duty in relation thereto. He presents the claims of God as manifested by the love of the Father, through the gift of his Son, in most touching appeals to his hearers, to enter the service of the Great King. Dr. Swift has a well deserved reputation as a pulpit orator, and doubtless he is stronger as a sermonizer than as a pastor, although he is a pleasant conver- sationalist and a very companionable man. His experiences in boyhood have broadened his sympathies so that he can un- derstand the needs of the laboring man, as well as the man of larger means. He recognizes that the dollar is not the meas- ure of the man. In this age of mammon worship it is refreshing to occasionally find a person with higher ideals than mere money getting, even if he cannot be classed as a financier. Dr. Swift's work has been noted elsewhere and it shows conclu- sively that his pastorate must be classed along with those of Dr. Rowland and Dr. Dunning, among the great pastorates of the church, both in length of time and the results that have flowed therefrom. Dr. Swift understands that many of the old families that have been rock foundation for the church are pass- ing away, and that the church must extend its arms wide so as to take in all who repent and believe regardless of prior social condition, if the church is to sustain itself and accomplish its mission.
THE SESSION consists of the pastor and ruling elders of a particular congregation. The pastor is moderator and he, to- gether with two elders, constitutes a quorum. The church ses- sion is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of the congregation; for which purpose they have power to inquire into the knowledge and Christian conduct of the members of the church; to call before them offenders and witnesses, being
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members of their own congregation and to introduce other wit- nesses where it may be necessary to bring the process to issue, and when they can be procured to attend; to receive members into the church; to admonish, to rebuke, to suspend or exclude from the sacraments, those who are found to deserve censure; to concert the best measures for promoting the spiritual inter- ests of the congregation; and to appoint delegates to the higher judicatories of the church. The session calls the meeting of the congregation for the election of a pastor, and it becomes its duty to make this call when a majority of the congregation ask it. Session has power to try offenders and the censures to be inflicted are admonition, rebuke, suspension or deposition from office, and in extreme cases excommunication. All proceedings of the church shall be reported to, and reviewed by, the ses- sion, and by its order incorporated with its records. The rule is not discretionary, but mandatory, that church sessions shall order the incorporation of the record of these meetings with their own records. This construction of the rule in question is understood to apply to proceedings of trustees in all cases in which, under the laws of the places in which they exercise their functions, their action is subject to review by the session. "The General Assembly takes notice that the exclusive authority of the session over the worship of the church, including not only the times and places of preaching the Word, but also the music and use of church buildings, is not sufficiently appreciated by the church at large, and that there are frequent complaints that trustees of congregations assume powers and authority, es- pecially over music and the use of church buildings, which are not warranted by, but in conflict with the constitution of the church. The assembly enjoins upon the churches loyal ad- herence to our form of government providing that the authority of the session over all matters of worship is paramount, and at the same time recommends that all such questions be treated by the session with Christian tact and courtesy, in the spirit of love and forbearance."
These quotations from our church authorities show that
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the ruling power over the individual churches is the session and it is important that this body should be composed of consci- entious Christian men who will exercise their powers with fidelity and care.
The session of the Honesdale Presbyterian church has handled some very delicate cases in discipline, covering the ground from admonition to excommunication. One man was called before the session or visited by its committees about six times for intoxication. The offender humbly confessed and promise to do better every time and finally he conquered his bad habit and died a sober Christian man.
Dr. Rowland lived uptown and one Sunday as he was driv- ing to church he observed one of his members driving out into the country. He reported him to session and the offender was called before the session and promised not to do so again. Dr. Rowland was considered to be a very genial man but he would not tolerate any breach of discipline. A few cases involving immoralities were managed with conservatism and delicacy to the lasting good of the offending parties. At least two cases of discipline of a doctrinal nature have come before the session. One was refused a letter of dismission to another church on the ground of his want of adherence to our doctrine and another was dropped from the rolls at his own request. Some have been disciplined for dishonesty, for quarreling and for dancing, and taken together the session has acted with discretion and moder- ation, having the ultimate reclamation of the offender in view, Discipline is not insisted upon with the rigidity that it once was and offenders are not as penitent as they were years ago, apparently. The theory is growing to let the wheat and tares grow together, and when the winnowing time comes the Judge of all the Earth will do right. Church membership should exert a restraining force and the censures of the church ought not to be lightly esteemed, when the powers of the session are exercised in loving forbearance and justice. If a church does not insist upon a high standard of living it may degenerate into a respectable club destitute of the power of religion. In the
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case of the offender who was so often called before the session it is difficult to decide which to admire the more, the fidelity of the session in seeking the reformation of one of its members or the humble penitence of the offender. It is said that after he had conquered himself finally that he thanked the session for its faithfulness.
RULING ELDERS .- The elders in the church since its organ- ization have been:
ELECTED. RESIGNED.
February 11, 1829. Joseph L. Kellogg. . October 4, 1830.
February 11, 1829. Stephen Torrey. .November 1, 1839.
February 11, 1829 . Horace Baldwin. .April 20, 1842.
February 11, 1829. Isaac P. Foster. . October 15, 1842.
October 4, 1830 .. .. Stephen Brush ..
.October 15, 1842.
October 4, 1830 .. . . Solomon Z. Lord. September 17, 1842.
August 30, 1840. . James S. Bassett. . October 15, 1842.
August 30, 1840. . . Ebenezer Kingsbury . . September 17, 1842. DIED
October 15, 1842 .. . Richard L. Seely. November 8, 1863.
October 15, 1842 .. . Horace Tracy. June 9, 1848.
December 11, 1845. William Reed .. . 1879.
December 11, 1845. John P. Darling. Retired, 1876.
January 27, 1851. . Stephen D. Ward . Resigned, 1860.
DIED
January 27, 1851. . Stephen Torrey *. .June 17, 1889.
January 27, 1851. . Adonijah Strong, M. D.1879.
November 25, 1864. Isaac P. Foster* .December, 1876.
November 25, 1864. Stephen D. Ward *. September, 1874.
November 22, 1870. Miles L. Tracy .Declined reelection, December 31, 1882.
DIED
November 22, 1870. Stephen G. Cory April 7, 1889.
November 22, 1870. Henry M. Seely. .December 25, 1894.
September 22, 1874. W. B. Holmes
November 19, 1876 . H. C. Hand.
December 17, 1878 . John T. Ball
December 31, 1882. Andrew Thompson.
June, 1890 Joseph A. Bodie
June, 1890. . William J. Ward
January 16, 1895. . J. Adam Reitenauer
January 16, 1895. . R. M. Stocker.
*Reelected.
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The first four elders were elected by the charter members on the day of organization, and others have been elected from time to time as above indicated.
October 31, 1870, the session met at the house of Isaac P. Foster and transacted some important business. There were present besides Dr. Dunning, the moderator, Isaac P. Foster, William Reed, Stephen D. Ward and Stephen Torrey. After an interchange of views with reference to the condition of the session they resolved: First, to recommend to the church that the session be enlarged by the election of three persons to serve as Ruling Elders. Second, to recommend to the church the adoption of the principle of rotation in the acting eldership of the church and the election of three persons annually to serve as acting elders, to serve for the term of three years, sub- ject however to reelection. It was further agreed that the three oldest in years would retire from office at the end of the first year, and the other three were to retire at the end of the second year, all subject to reelection. They also recommended the election of three persons to serve as deacons for the term of three years, also subject to reelection.
November 21 the session met again and recommended that three-fifth of all the votes cast at the approaching meeting of the church for the election of Ruling Elders and Deacons shall be required to secure an election. They also recommended that nominations for Ruling Elders and Deacons be made by an in- formal ballot and that the six persons having the greatest num- ber of votes for these offices be the nominees for the offices designated by said ballots.
On November 22, 1870, a meeting of the congregation was held in the Lecture Room. This meeting, together with the action of the session, had been announced from the pulpit for three Sabbaths prior to its being held. Rev. Dr. Dunning pre- sided and the recommendations of the session were adopted. At this meeting Miles L. Tracy, Stephen G. Cory and Henry M. Seely were elected Ruling Elders for the term of three years. they being the first elders elected in this church under the
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rotary system. At the same meeting Daniel M. Eno, Elias T. Beers and John T. Ball were elected deacons, under the same rotary system, and this marked the beginning of the office of deacon in the Honesdale church.
In 1873 James B. Eldred was elected deacon.
J. Adam Reitenauer was elected deacon in 1874.
Joseph A. Bodie, elected in place of J. B. Eldred, Decem- ber 19, 1884.
December 24, 1890, Clarence E. Salmon elected deacon.
George W. Penwarden elected deacon December 21, 1892. James S. Gillen elected deacon January 16, 1895.
John Congdon elected deacon January 2, 1898. John Boyd elected deacon December 29, 1903.
The present board of deacons consists of George W. Pen- warden, John Congdon and John Boyd.
The deacons in some congregations have charge of the temporal concerns of the church, but in Honesdale Presbyterian church they have charge of the poor funds of the church and look after their distribution among those that may need help; and the trustees have more particular charge of the temporal matters. The rules governing elections of elders and deacons have been readopted by resolution at each succeeding election of these officers since that time. Nominating by ballot gives the most timid person an opportunity to name a candidate, and requiring three-fifths of the votes cast to elect a candidate, in- sures a reasonable unanimity in the final choice.
Joseph Lockwood Kellogg was dismissed to Honesdale church from the Central Presbyterian church of New York, December 4, 1828. He united with the church at its organiza- tion in 1829 and was elected a Ruling Elder at the same time. He served as elder, being the first clerk of the session, for about two years. He purchased the lot now known as Henry Roe's office next to Alanson Blood's and built the office which is now there. This property he sold to Samuel Kellogg, of Fairfield, Conn. He had a store house in the lower end of town which he sold to Wilmot Williams. In 1828 he was elected the first
WILLIAM REED S. D. WARD
J. P. DARLING DR. A. STRONG
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Superintendent of the Sunday school. June 26, 1831, he re- united with the Central Presbyterian church and later took a letter to a Presbyterian church in Springfield, O.
Horace Baldwin, another charter member, was a black- smith and tinsmith. Stephen North built on Main street, be- tween Tenth and Eleventh streets, where Schuerholz now is, and started the tinsmith business which he sold to Baldwin, Bliss & Co. Derial Gibbs, a gunsmith, and Baldwin erected the building now occupied by Mayhew as a harness shop. Mr. Baldwin was also superintendent of the Sunday school at one time. Mr. Baldwin and his wife, Olive P. Baldwin, came here from the church at Dundaff. In 1842, after being an elder about thirteen years, he sold out and went west.
Stephen Brush was born in Fairfield county, Ct., in 1796, and died January 14, 1860. He came to Honesdale in 1829 and built a house where Mrs. H. G. Keefer now lives, on Park street. He was a shoemaker by trade and was elected Justice of the Peace when the office was first made elective. He and his wife Dianthe joined the church on profession of faith July 15, 1829, being the sixteenth and seventeenth members on the church rolls. He was elected an elder in 1830 and served until 1842, resigning with Elder Foster at that time. Jacob Miller, the Glen Dyberry cemetery sexton, remembers him as conduct- ing a Sunday school in the school house near the fair grounds, assisted by Nathaniel Beers and Elias T. Beers. One of his daughters, Betsey, was the wife of B. B. Smith. Epitaphs are not numerous in Glen Dyberry but he has one: "Earth has his dust, friends his memory and the Redeemer his spirit."
The following is taken from the Wayne County Herald of Saturday, April 20, 1844: "Died, in this borough on the 15th inst., the Hon. Ebenezer Kingsbury, aged 40 years. In his death, the domestic and social circle, the church of Christ, and society at large, have lost one of their brightest ornaments, and most useful and valued members. It is but a few months since we followed to the grave a fellow citizen, a member of the bar,*
*Thomas Fuller, Esq.
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and one at the head of his profession in this county; and now we have to record the departure of another. Death does not often, in so brief a space, select for its victims two such men, who were in the midst of life and health, of equal age, of the same profession, and filling so wide a sphere of usefulness, and consign them so suddenly and unexpectedly to the grave; nor is it often that the social circle of a village like ours, receives so rude a shock. Both these individuals were men of high moral worth and standing in the community-both were members of the same bar-both were professors of religion, though united to different churches-both were superintendents of the Sab- bath school in their own church-both were heads of families and near neighbors, and were severed from domestic ties of the most tender interest-both died in the faith of Jesus Christ, and both sleep in the same burying ground. Ebenezer Kings- bury was born in Jericho, Vt., A. D. 1804. From thence at eight years of age, he removed with his parents to Harford, Susquehanna county, in this state. At the age of twenty he commenced the study of law with the Hon. William Jessup of Montrose; and after he had acquired his profession, pursued it for four years in that town. He then removed first to Carbon- dale, and from thence to this place, where he continued to reside till death. He has left a wife and five children, and an aged mother, he being the last of six sons, all of whom now sleep in the grave. He was for four years a member of the Senate of this state, representing in that body the district comprising Wayne, Luzerne, Pike and Monroe counties; and during a por- tion of that time was Speaker of the Senate, sustaining in that capacity an office, the second in dignity in this Commonwealth, and discharging his duties with fidelity and honor. He was also entrusted by his fellow citizens with numerous subordinate offices, and in his official relations conciliated the friendship of all with whom he had intercourse. He took a lively interest in the cause of education, and to his exertions and influence, the schools of higher order in this borough are greatly indebted for their prosperity. In the year 1831, he made a public pro-
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fession of religion, and united himself with the Presbyterian church in Montrose, and on his removal to this town, changed his relations to the church here, of which he has since been elected and ordained an elder. He was at the time of his de- cease, the President of the Board of Trustees, and the Superin- tendent of the Sabbath school. During the progress of the work of grace last winter, in the church of which he was a member, his hope was severely tried. A cloud of darkness passed over his mind. It was the dealing of the Holy Spirit with him, and it led him to examine with more carefulness, the ground of his hope. This examination, accompanied with a renewed consecration of himself to God, resulted in a more con- firmed and unwavering assurance of his divine acceptance, and seemed to be a work of grace preparatory to his triumphant exit. On the day of his decease, after uniting in prayer with his pastor, he, himself, to the surprise of all, offered in a clear and distinct voice, a prayer for himself and his family, com- mending all to God, and consecrating himself afresh to his Saviour. He felt, for he often quoted the impressive words of Young,
'The chamber where the good man meets his fate,
Is privileged beyond the common walks of life ;'
and his last words were, the Saviour is precious;' 'it is all over;' 'I do love God;' '.I am perfectly happy.' Thus as a man and a Christian, our departed friend acted well his part, and has gone, we trust, to dwell in the bosom of his God and Sav- iour, and to mingle in the brighter scenes of heaven. And though he has left a large circle of friends to mourn his loss; yet we cannot but rejoice that our loss is his everlasting gain."
At a meeting of the members of the Bar, Officers of the Court, and Students at Law, of Wayne county, assembled at the office of William H. Dimmick, Esq., Earl Wheeler, Esq. was appointed Chairman, and William H. Dimmick, Esq. was appointed Secretary; when on motion, a committee of three was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Charles K. Robinson, John I. Allen and Simon G. Throop, to draft Resolutions expressive of the sense of this meeting. The Committee, through Charles K. Robinson, Chairman, reported the following: Among other things they say "that while filling the highest office in the state, save the Executive, the same high and un-
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flinching Integrity, the same pure and unsullied principles of Democracy actuated his fearless conduct, and crowned his noble and untiring efforts, that proved his incentive and guided his motives, while an editor and ad- vocate of Republican principles in his own county. As an attorney, we have in his death lost an amiable and honorable member of the legal pro- fession; we beheld him attained to that noble and dignified character, which the law itself, as a profession, requires, viz: a candid and upright lawyer. But the public principles and virtues of an individual, are all found merged in his domestic and private character. Here we learn the criterion of human life. And it is here, we are happy and proud to refer, on the present deplorable occurrence. As a husband and parent, our de- ceased friend was kind and humane-obliging as a neighbor-confiding and generous as a friend-the last to swerve from fidelity, or betray his trust. As a Christian, he was exemplary; benevolent in charities, and accommo- dating in all his avocations. In him a friend in need learned beside the name of friendship, its reality, and the appealing and distressed never turned from him in disappointment."
It was owing to Ebenezer Kingsbury's efforts, largely, that the county seat was changed from Bethany to Honesdale. His life was full of promise. He was active as senator, editor of the Herald and lawyer. The late Chief Justice Woodward said of him: "I have been in many countries and in every state of our Union and have met many men of high standing and ability but I never met a man I admired more for his many accom- plishments as a lawyer and as a gentleman than Ebenezer Kings- bury, nor one that I loved as much as a Christian." He also said that had he lived he would have been the next Governor of the Commonwealth. His wife, Elizabeth Harlow Fuller, was born January 1, 1805, in Norwich, Conn .; married to Ebenezer Kingsbury, Jr., November 4, 1829; died at Scranton, Pa., June 13, 1871. Their children were Henry Augustus, Edward Pay- son, Mary Elizabeth, Emmeline Chapman and Caroline Neal; of these Edward Payson and Caroline Neal, (wife of Col. F. L. Hitchcock) both residing at Scranton, Pa., are now living. In the year 1857 his wife removed from Honesdale to Scranton, where she resided until the time of her decease, June 13, 1871. On June 6, 1858, she changed her relation with the Presby- terian church of Honesdale, of which for many years she had been a member, to the First Presbyterian church of Scranton. She was a faithful, tender, and affectionate wife and mother, and
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whether in the performance of her domestic duties or in the family circle, gathered around the hearthstone, or in the social relations of life, she ever adorned the character of a benevolent and true Christian woman.
James S. Bassett was born in New Jersey, July 22, 1803. He was one of the pioneers in Honesdale. He married Maria Hornbeck and had two sons, John and Hornbeck. He and his son John had a dry goods store on Park street adjoining Brown's furniture store. He was an elder in the church from 1840 to 1842 when he resigned along with Elders Foster and Brush.
Solomon Z. Lord died at the residence of his daughter, H. S. Blossom, at Bradford, Pa., June 29, 1900, aged 91 years, three months and thirteen days. He was born at Hebron, Coun., March 16, 1799. At fourteen he left home to learn the tailor- ing trade, at Rome, N. Y. He united with the Presbyterian church at that place in 1826 and married Adeline Garrett the same year. In 1829 he came to Honesdale to visit his brother, R. F. Lord. In September, 1829, he came to Honesdale to live. His wife died in 1835. He married Sarah Jessup in Novem- ber of that year. In 1836 he became foreman on the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and in 1839 he assumed charge of the freight house of the company. He was appointed collector at Hawley in 1850, which position he held until 1885. He was an elder in the Honesdale Presbyterian church from 1830 until 1842, when he resigned, and in the Hawley Presbyterian church from 1858 until he died. Solomon Z. Lord was the first of the Lord family to locate in Honesdale, purchasing the property afterwards owned by R. F. Lord, now occupied by the C. C. Jadwin property. As a citizen Mr. Lord was held in high esteem. He was conservative and unobtrusive, but liberal minded and ever ready to lend his influence to all movements calculated to advance the social and material interests of the community in which he lived. Jessup Lord, of Waymart, is his son.
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