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CENTENARY
OF THE	|
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GOUVERNEUR
NEW YORK
1817	1917
A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
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WRITTEN IN COMMEMORATION OF THE
ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH
May 24, 1817,
AS READ BY THE AUTHOR
MISS SARAH H. A. PARKER
GOUVERNEUB, N. Y.
THE COX PEERS
1918FEW weeks ago we were all directed to tarn our
clocks forward for an hour, and this was accom-
plished without a jolt.
I now ask you to turn your clocks backward for this
hour, and let us assume that we are in the year 1917,
the centennial year of our church.
Ever since the day when a certain Mrs. Lot looked
backward and became a pillar of salt, a retrospect has
been highly unpopular. Looking backward is especi-
ally unpopular at this time when our slogans are “For-
ward, * * ‘ ‘Onward, *' ‘ ‘Burn your bridges. ”
We trust that none of us will be overtaken by the fate
of Mrs. Lot, and that nothing quite so tragic as flooding
the salt market will result from this meeting. But you
never can tell. Some of us may be turned into pillars
of sugar, or pillars of wheat, or even pillars of coal,
which, perhaps, would not be wholly a calamity.
If you are bored—many of you will be—kindly re-
member that this is not my story, it is simply the story
gleaned from the church records. And as these little
episodes occur only once in a hundred years, I trust you
will be patient with a long story, and I want to thank
you in advance for your courteous attention, and in re-
turn I give you my solemn promise never to repeat the
offense.
There is an old Latin proverb which, freely translated,
reads: “Learned and unlearned we all write.” Were
the old author living in these days he doubtless would
revise his proverb so that it would read: “Learned and
unlearned we all write, and the more unlearned we are
the more liable to become addicted to the writing habit. ’ ’
The application of this revised proverb is sufficiently
obvious.
To me has been assigned the task impossible; the
task of condensing into a few minutes the events of one4
Historical Sketch
hundred years. In the case of an insurance company, a
bank, a loan association, or of a single individual, this
would be appalling ; when we remember that the church
is an insurance company, a bank, a. loan association,
and an aggregation of many individuals, the task be-
comes more appalling. Then, too, we can never separ-
ate the church material from the church spiritual, so the
larger and better part of our church record is its un-
written history, its influence.
The astronomer may accurately weigh and measure
an unseen planet by its influence on other heavenly
bodies; but neither scientist nor theologian can measure
or weigh the influence of consecrated, Christian lives.
So I repeat that mine is the task impossible.
We can only touch upon a few of the material factors
which have entered into our structure, and the part that
I shall skip will be a considerable part of the church
history.
Right here let.me say that my work could not be per-;
formed even indifferently, were it not for the splendid
frame work builded by our village historian ;and Mrs.
Harvey L. Smith. These two painstaking ladies
searched tomes of. records and manuscripts, many of
which are now faded or lost, and sifted out a wealth of
history and, incident which could not be secured, from
any other source. In some instances I have copied ver-
batim from these earlier chroniclers.
It would be difficult to explain just what magic or just
what necromancy lurks in the completion of a century.
We may properly call, it the Mpsychological moment.”
Eighty, ninety, ninety-nine years are milestones which
we pass with scarcely a notice. But one hundred years.
Ah, that is different. That is a landmark at which we
pause and consider. « The great history, of. the whole
Christian church has been written in books each cover-
ing one.hundred years. We Aall remember how rever-
ently we watched the dial .the night the nineteenth cen-Presbyterian Church
5
tury passed into the twentieth; it was unlike any other
night.
Dr, O. W, Holmes facetiously observes,
“Little of all we value here wakes on the motn of its
hundredth year,
Without both feeling and looking queer.”
In general this is true.
The individual approaches the century mark with
sorrow and dismay. He feels the infirmities of age,
and realizes that his days of activity and usefulness
are over ; he is simply standing on the shore waiting for
the boatman. The Church meets the century milestone
with a song of exultation; with joy in her past successes,
with pleasure in her present prosperity, with glorious
anticipations for her future. She sees herself a splen-
did, organization, splendidly equipped for greater en-
deavor and for nobler achievements.
Let us nowr turn the dial backward something more
than a hundred years and look into a little primitive
settlement literally, carved out of the forest. When our
first.settlers left their homes and started for this north-
ern wilderness, they left behind most of their valued
possessions, but they brought with them their piety, and
a stern determination that the new colony should be
founded on the Rock, Christ Jesus.
From the first, religious services were held with as
much regularity as circumstances would permit, and
denominational lines were ignored. There were neigh-
borhood prayer meetings, catechism lessons for the
children, and community singing; some of our pioneers
were educated musicians and their voices rang through
the woods and fields in psalms, and hymns, and spirit-
ual songs. One of the largest rooms in the settlement
was Israel Porter’s dancing hall and services were fre-
quently held in this room. This building was located
on the west side at the top of saw-mill hill. It had
long, been the desire of the Presbyterian or Congreg;a-6
Historical Sketch
tional element to have an organization of their own. In
1817 a circular letter addressed to the immigrants from
New England, and others in the new settlements was
sent to this place; this letter urged the settlers to re-
newed Christian activity, and dwelt at length on the
study of the Bible, the training of children, and observ-
ance of the Sabbath. This little leaflet may properly
be called the corner stone of the Gouverneur Presby-
terian Church. It increased the demand for a Presby-
terian society.
Just a word as to the political setting for our infant
church. The war of 1812 was over and people were
ready to settle down to the useful activities of life.
James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States,
was inaugurated in March of that year. We remember
him as the author of the Monroe Doctrine which means
so much to us at this time. President Monroe also
visited Northern New York during this summer, and
the presidential coach rumbled up and down the very
roads that are now pulsating with automobiles, so our
people had the privilege of seeing a real live president.
The Mississippi river was practically the western bound-
ary of the United Stales, and the flag that floated over
our country bore fifteen stripes and fifteen stars. We
had nineteen states but the present flag was not adopted
until the following year.
Accordingly on May twenty-fourth, 1817, a Presby-
terian or Congregational church was organized. The
trustees were John Spencer, Rockwell Barnes, Richard
Kimball, William C leghorn, James Parker and William
Colton.
Six names were placed upon the church roll: William
Ciegborn, Elijah Hough, William Colton and his wife
Hannah Colton, Johnathan Colton and his wife Betsey
Colton. And I learn that the men named Cleghorn and
Hough were related by marriage to the Col tons.
The first person admitted upon profession of faithPresbyterian Church
7
was Mrs. Elizabeth Spencer and the first children bap-
tized were the children of Mrs. Spencer. It was not
until 1820 that the church was legally constituted a
society with corporate power. During these three
years there was no settled pastor, and the services were
irregular.
In the year 1820 the first “meeting house55 was
erected; such a rough, rude building as to scarcely
merit the name of house. This building must be de-
scribed mostly in the negative; we do not know exactly
where it stood, but probably on this lot, or perhaps
nearer the watering trough; it had no seats except rough
boards, no means of heating, not a luxury, not even a
comfort which we deem essential today; but so eager
were the people for church privileges that they came
long distances over rough trails, in ox carts, and lis-
tened to long sermons, seated on these plain benches
without even a back. But it was their own home church
built by their own efforts, yes built by their own hands.
It was the house of God and filled with the glory of the
Lord.
Let your fancy travel backward a moment. Can sou
not hear their beautiful voices floating down the century?
“I love thy kingdom Lord!
The house of thine abode.”
In January 1821 Rev. James Murdock was engaged as
stated supply and served the church faithfully for four
years. Mr. Murdock was a genial, active old man and
much beloved by his people. He loved to relate his
amusing experiences of pioneer life. He lived on a
farm on the Somerville road just beyond St. Lawrence
Marble Mill. His salary was small* the little farm
which he tended supplied the fatuity with vegetables,
and his excellent wife so managed the larder as to throw
an air of thrift and comfort over the household. He
took long horseback rides to visit his parishoners, and,
in the absence of golf links and tennis courts, he sawed8
Historical Sketch
wood for muscular development. During the last year
of his pastorate, 1824, the first rude structure was re-
placed hv a more pretentious building. Through nego-
tiations with Judge Kent, agent for Mrs.-Gouyerneur
Morris, our present church site was deeded to the society
to hold forever for church purposes. This meeting
house was built at a cost of fourteen hundred dollars,
and boasted no architectural beauty. It was thirty-four
by thirty-nine feet in size, with a gallery around three
sides; the church had no steeple but across the front
was a square cornice ornamented with four small spires.
This building had a checkered career. It was moved to
the lot now occupied by the Starbuck barn, and later
traveled across the street to the lot where stands the
Gouverneur Marble Works. It was in turn a church, a
town hall, an opera house, paint shop, hose house, vil-
lage lock-up, and marble shop. It went down in the
fire of October 7th, 1877. So far as we know the funny
little spires are lost forever, not even a picture remain-
ing. Plain and cheerless as was this church, it was
dear to the hearts of the worshippers. Before the build-
ing was removed the following resolution was placed
upon the church records;
“Resolved, That the church will enter upon its
records the expression of its gratitude to God for all the
great mercies experienced by the church in this.house
for nearly a quarter of a century, during which time.it
has pleased the great head of the church at sundry times
to visit this branch of Zion with the gracious effusions
of his blessed spirit; and to permit additions to be
made to it by profession of faith and by certificate of
nearly five hundred persons.”
In 1825 the church held a “protracted meeting:”
Through the work of the noted evangelist, Rev. Charles
G. Finney, a great revival was experienced and about
eighty persons were received into this church. A'goodly
number also united with the Baptist church.
Rev. Mr. Murdock was succeeded in 1825 by Rev.Presbyterian Church
9
Richard C: Hand who was installed in September 1826,
and remained the faithful pastor for about seven years,
or until January 1833. The church was then without a
regular pastor for five years but was supplied by Revs.
Jonathan Hovey, Mr. Bucknall, and Robert F. Law-
rence. These meii served short periods and there were
no services the greater part of these five years.
In 1835 the church was impoverished by the removal
of several families, among them the Jonathan Colton
and the Smith families. These people joined a colony
from Northampton, Mass., and emigrated to Princeton,
111. This colony was organized bv Massachusetts peo-
ple for mutual co-operation in promoting the cause of
Christ and education in the virgin prairies of Illinois.
After a long and tedious journey they located in Prince-
ton and: became the nucleus of the first Congregational
church which was named the Hampshire Colon}’ Church,
organized October 20th, 1835.
The later history of these immigrants is interesting
and it is not a digression to follow them to their western
home. The Coltons were a family of clergymen distin-
guished in church and educational work. Edwin G.
Smith, a little lad of fourteen years when they left this
place, later became the Rev. Edwin G. Smith, a graduate
of the first class of Knox College, Galesburg, 111., and
for many years prominent in evangelical and educational
work in the west. You are all, in a way, acquainted
with this Smith family, better acquainted than most of
you realize, for the only son Edwin G. Smith, Junior,
became a pioneer in the Rocky Ford melon industry.
Several years ago it was my pleasure to visit Mr. Smith
in his western home, and I found him a veritable ‘ ‘ Prince
Charming”, eighty-two years young, and in full mental
and physical vigor. He wanted me to tell him every-
thing that had happened in the almost seventy years he
had been away from his native village, which was some-
thing of a strain on my resources. My time with him10
Historical Sketch
was short but he insisted on taking me to see this
Hampshire Colony Church. So you see our church was
instrumental, it would be more modest to say one of the
instruments in founding the first Congregational church
of the great state of Illinois.
In October, 1838, Rev. Simeon Bicknell, a Dartmouth
graduate, was ordained as pastor of the church. He re-
mained until January, 1842, when he was succeeded by
Rev. John Orr who began his service in February 1842.
Mr. Orr remained until August 1843 but was never or-
dained.
The pictures sketched in these old records are evi-
dently faithful likenesses,, with no attempt at gloss or
retouching, and there are no bouquets. A note in the
record says:
“ Mr. Orr was a native of Maine, a graduate
of Bowdoin College, of Bangor Theological Semi-
nary; a man of good education, a deep original thinker,
strong and instructive sermonizer, rather ultra Calvan-
istic in doctrine, pure and blameless in morals, but not
popular as a man or minister. Phlegmatic in manners,
and seemingly without passions either good or bad.”
And now the church has rounded out a quarter of a
century.
“ Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his good-
ness and for his wonderful works to the children of
men.”
About this time events crowded fast and it is difficult
to keep history in its proper order.
For a longtime, perhapstwent}7years, there had been
a division in the church, and this breach continued to
widen in spite of the conscientious efforts of both par-
ties to come to an amicable understanding.
It is not necessary to enter into the details of this
disturbance. A number asked for letters of dismissal
that they might form a second Congregational church.
These letters could not be granted; month after monthPresbyterian Church
11
committees labored with the disaffected brothers and
sisters to convince them of their error, and to urge them
to remain with the parent church. Dear old Deacon
Wright was the pastor’s faithful coadjutor and prayed
and expostulated in season and out of season to bring
about a reconciliation. But all to no avail. To use a
legal phrase* it seemed to be a case of “Incompatibility'
of Disposition.’’
I wish I could give you sketches of the various char-
acters as they are revealed in these records, but time
will not permit. We must sketch character collectively
and not deal with particular individuals.
We are apt to think of those people as stern, hard,
austere, unyielding, perhaps bigoted. We must remem-
ber they were born in a different century; they were
pioneers and suffered the hardships and privations of
pioneer life. I find them uncompromising wTith wrong,
but gentle, patient, and forgiving with the wrong doer;
always striving for peace; not peace at any price, but
the priceless peace of being right. Church discipline
was never resorted to until prayer, admonition, and
counsel had failed; and even then the erring member
was always given the privilege of returning to the fold.
Beautiful characters are revealed in this controversy.
A certain number saw it their duty to secede from the
parent church and they carried out their convictions.
The result of these years of struggle was that a second
Congregational church was organized in 1843, taking
from this church twenty-seven members, and a number
from Richville. When the division finally culminated
the following resolution was placed upon the church
record:
‘ ‘ Resolved, That when any of those persons shall
see the error of their ways, and be ready and willing to
confess and forsake their errors, and shall desire to re-
turn to the church, the doors of the church and the
hearts of its members are open to receive them.”12
Historical Sketch
This second Congregational society bought the lot
where the Methodist church now stands, and erected a
plain edifice which they, occupied until 1862, when the
organization was dissolved and most of the members re-
turned to the parent fold. The Methodist society
bought this building and occupied it for a few years,
when it was removed to the rear of the Elliott store,
Park street; it was used a short time as an opera house,
was next purchased by the Catholics, and was burned in
the fire of January, 1875. It may not be out of
place to relate a little incident connected with
that fire. On this cold January morning amid
the roar and din of a great conflagration, a beau-
tiful sight struck the spectators. The large white
cross, tipped with gold, was almost the last thing to
take fire, and, as the flames curled about the extended
arms, they lingered lovingly awhile, as if loth to destroy
this emblem of the Christian’s hope. A reverent on-
looker was heard to murmur:
‘ ‘ In the cross of Christ I glory
Towering o’er the wrecks of time.”
The church next extended a call to Rev. B. B. Beck-
with who commenced his labors in the fall of 1843, and
was installed February 14th, 1844. The installation ser-
mon was preached by Rev. Beriah Hotchkin, of Pots-
dam, from the text found in second Corinthians IV :4.
“ The light of the glorious gospel of Christ.”
Mr. Beckwith’s pastorate covered a period of twenty -
three years, years fruitful in both spiritual and material
prosperity. In many respects Mr. Beckwith presented
striking contrast to his predecessor, Mr. Orr. He cer-
tainly was not “phlegmatic.” The tails of his frock
coat could often be seen whisking around a corner some-
time after the man had disappeared. Mr. Beckwith was
—well—he may be described briefly as a live wire.
Brisk, quick, energetic, a man who made friends,
(whisper it softly) he made enemies too; public spiritedErected 1843 - 44E rected 1892-93Presbyterian Church	17
and active in the secular affairs of the village. The
church had no parsonage and Mr. Beckwith bought the
west half of the square bounded by Main, Sterling,
Beckwith and Depot streets; on this lot he built a house
which is now a part of the Frank Freeman house. His
pastorate was strenuous for both pastor and people.
The .country passed through two wars, “ The Mexican ”
and the ‘‘War of the Rebellion;” when the war cloud
is over the land the people are unreasonable, turbulent,
and difficult to manage. We see proof of this at the
present time. He lived to see peace restored to his
country and to his people.
In 1843 a new ‘‘Meeting House” was. raised and fin-
ished in 1844; the one most of us remember as the
‘‘Old Church”. Our forefathers made a distinction
between their building which was a meeting house, and
their organization which was a church, but I have been
careless about observing this distinction. However this
was a meeting house, sixty by forty feet, with a seven
foot projection for lobby and belfry; its cost was about
thirty-five hundred dollars.
The Gothic or Romanesqe in church architecture was
slow in reaching these wilds, and this meeting house
was, perhaps, the squarest building ever designed.
Please permit a grammatical indiscretion and let me call
it the most squarest building. You entered a square
lobby or vestibule from which two doors opened into a
square audience room containing forty-four rectangular
pews with square doors that fastened with wooden but-
tons. Near both entrances were square platforms on
which stood big square stoves which were supposed to
heat the building but sometimes failed of their mission.
Across the rear was a square gallery, in which was a
wonderful pipe organ, also square. The windows were
squaie and contained two hundred and forty square
panes of clear glass. There were green blinds through
which the sun shone and painted square bars on wallsw
Historical Sketch
and floor. In front of the pulpit was a square mahog-
any table; the platform and pulpit were square, and on
either side of the pulpit were square columns which
held books or lamps; the minister’s haircloth sofa had
a square mahogany back; high above this sofa was a big
square shelf evidently designed as an ornament; the
collection plates were square boxes fastened on long
wooden handles. When my memory begins, the floor
was covered with a green carpet marked off in black
squares.
Previous to the dedication the following resolutions
wete recorded:
“Resolved, That Thursday, the twenty-ninth day of
August, 1844, be fixed upon and set apart as the day on
which the new meeting house shall be solemnly dedi-
cated to the worship of the Triune God, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
“Resolved, That the church be directed to send no-
tices of the intended dedication to the several congrega-
tions in this village in order that all who wish may
have opportunity to attend.”
Pastor Beckwith preached the dedicatory sermon from
Kxodus XX, 24. “In all places where I record my
name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.”
For a long time a change in church government had
been under consideration. In February, 1863, a motion
was passed that “the church become fully Presbyterian
by electing a board of ruling elders.” Accordingly
seven elders were elected by ballot and were ordained
on Sabbath afternoon, May seventeenth, 1863. Their
names were George Rodger, Melville Thrall, Samuel
Wright, James Brodie, Simeon Parmelee, Joseph Howes
and George Fockie. Rev. John Waugh presided and was
assisted in the seryice by Revs.B. B. Beckwith, Stephen
Johnson and Joseph Fowney.
Soon after this Mr. Beckwith began to feel the in-
firmities of age and the weakness of ill health, and
several times asked to have the pastoral relation dis-Presbyterian Church
19
solved; but the people were loth to lose their loved pas-
tor, the man who had led them faithfully for nearly a
quarter of a century. Finally, in 1865, his resignation
was accepted, though he continued to serve the church
for another year, or until a call was extended to Rev.
N. J. Conklin, of Utica, N. Y. Mr. Conklin began
his labor iu March, 1866, and was ordained and installed
on July 19th of the same year. Rev. Dr. Greenwall, of
Eaton, Penn., the pastor’s father-in-law, delivered the
installation sermon. This same year the society built a
new parsonage just east of the church. This was a
pretty, comfortable home and housed the different min-
isters until the present one took its place.
And fifty years of church life have passed.
“Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his good-
ness and for his wonderful works to the children of
men.”
The ministry of Mr. Conklin will be remembered by
a large number of the present membership. He was a
man of strong faith, a genial friend, a faithful pastor,
and the church grew and prospered under his guidance.
During his ministry the church was enlarged by a rear
extension and the addition of twenty pews; the old
stoves were exchanged for a furnace, the lighting was
changed, and some other improvements were made, but
the general squareness remained unaltered. The doors
of the pews were removed and the funny little slams
which announced the arrival of a family and their set-
tlement in their very own places were heard no more.
The removal of these doors made a great impression
upon the children of that time, and henceforward being
in church was less like being caught in a trap.
Mr. Conklin resigned his charge in 1879, and was
succeeded by Rev. Dr. Tryon Edwards, a grandson of
Rev. Jonathan Edwards.
Dr. Edwards was born in 1809, the year that gave to
the world so many men and women of exceptional tal-20
Historical Sketch
ents. Indeed a veritable halo seems to encircle the
birth roll of that year. Dr. Edwards had passed the
three score and ten milestone when he came to us, and
the radiance of “the end of the journey” shone in his
face. He was a man of great erudition, a writer of
ability, and a gracious and godly man, a man who com-
manded respect and esteem from all. His pastorate,
covering a period of six years, was a time of steady
growth and uplift, but was not marked by any extraor-
dinary events. One of his favorite expressions was
that “grass does not grow b}' eruption.” When sick-
ness caused his retirement he left a church united and
prosperous.
For a little more than a year we were without a regular
pastor and the pulpit was supplied partly by candidates
and partly by Rev. J. A. Canfield, of Antwerp. The
true facts of the case are, (this is just between our-
selves) the church was waiting for their boy to grow up.
In time he did grow up and came to us in June, 1887,
fresh from college, and full of youthful ardor and en-
thusiasm. Rev. J. H. Beattie came from the old home
town to establish his boy in his life work, and presided
at the services of ordination and installation which were
held July 19th of the same year. The boy has con-
tinued to grow up with the other boys and girls of his
charge. He has laid away the fathers and mothers; he
has married the young people, baptized their babies,
and, just a little later, has officiated at the weddings of
these same babies, and helped to set them up in homes
of their own. Great changes have come in his time.
“Oid things have passed away and all things have be-
come new.” The people had long realized that the
church was shabby and had thought about a new build-
ing. It is a Presbyterian characteristic to move slowly.
But the boy quoted from Ezra, “ Eet it be done with
speed.” “So they did speedily.” (Ezra VI, 12, 13)
and early in his pastorate the splendid new church wasPresbyterian Church
21
commenced. Perhaps it is sufficient eulogy to say that
thirty years have passed and the boy is with us yet.'
“And when we have done with these life-lasting toys,
Dear Father, take care of Thy children,-the boys.”
The old church was formally closed with a historic ser-
mon by the paistor and the work of demolition commenced
at once. Let us turn back to the history of Israel for a
moment. » • '
“ Furthermore the king said unto all the congregation,
my son whom alone God hath chosen is yet,young and
tender, and the work is great; for the palace.is not for
man but for the Lord God. Now I have prepared with
all my might for the house of my God, the gold for
things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of
silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for
things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones
and stones to be set, glistening stones arid of divers col-
ors,- and all mariner of precious stones, and marble stones
in abundance.” — (I Chro. XXIX, 1, 2„)	, .
. On May fourth, 1892, ground was broken for the new
church and we passed the seventy-five year inilestone.
“ Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his good-
ness and for his wonderful works to the. children of
men.”
Our new church needs little description; it is a mag-
nificent pile of Gouverneur rparble with interior finish
of chestnut, and seats eleven hundred persons. It.is a
substantial, convenient, luxurious, and graceful, build-
ing, the old squares having given place to arches, curves
and circles. Its cost was, approximately .fifty thousand
dollars, and the whole debt was lifted in 1902:
The corner stone of this beautiful structure was laid
on the afternoon of July 27th, 1892. and the young pas-
tor swung the great stone into place. The company
then assembled in Union Hall arid listened to an elo-
quent address by Rev. L. M. Milieryof Ogdensburg.
October the third, 1893; was a: perfect day, and the
noble edifice was dedicated with imposing ceremonies.
Rev. Henry H. StebbinSj D.D.;1 of Rochester, N. Y.,22
Historical Sketch
preached the dedicatory sermon, choosing for his text
these words found in Acts II, 42. “And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and
in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Rev. Dr. Miller
offered the dedicatory prayer. There was also an even-
ing service with several fine addresses, the local pastors
and others taking part in the exercises. The choir fur-
nished splendid, inspiring music for both services.
As the vast audience passed out into the beautiful
October night, the attentive ear could hear the ‘‘heaven
of heavens praising Him,” and the “stars of night”
chanting:
“ Here shall highest praise be offered,
Here shall meekest prayer be poured,
Here with body, soul, and spirit,
God Incarnate be adored.”
In 1904 the church property was enriched and beauti-
fied by a new parsonage, the gift of Mrs. Myra Dean and
her daughters. The old building was removed to the
east side of John street, and is now the Fox house.
The new parsonage is a modern convenient house
built of brick, with trimmings of Gouverneur marble,
and is a fitting companion to the church.
The last year of the century opened with a pentecost
of souls, when by special services and special efforts over
eighty new converts were added to the church.
And we reach the one-hundred year milestone.
“Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness
and for his wonderful works to the children of men.”
The present church membership is five hundred and
fifty. We have now as church members Mr. Sabin Par-
ker, a son of James Parker one of the first trustees; Mrs.
Celia Pike, a granddaughter of the first member, William
Cleghorn, and several descendants of the first pastor
Rev. James Murdock.
In three cases the office of elder has passed from father
to son.
The church has been remarkable in many wrays, espec*Presbyterian Church
23
iallv for long terms of service. Pastor Beckwith served
twenty-three years. Mr. Skinner has completed his
thirtieth year. Mr. William Miller was sexton for up-
wards of twenty years, and William West was the faith-
ful church housekeeper for twenty-five years.
Mrs. Erwin Barnes was received into the church June
third, 1836. (82 years ago). However Mrs. Barnes was
away for a few years so that her membership has not
been continuous for that time.
Mrs. Chloe Hill united with the church in 1854; Miss
Christie Hill and Mrs. John Rodger united in 1857.
These are continuous memberships, and many names
have been on the church roll for the full half century.
Elder James Brodie prepared and took charge of the
communion table for over thirty years. John Rodger
sang bass in the choir nearly the whole of his life. Mrs.
Sheldon commenced to play the church organ when she
was a little girl, so very little that she had to slide off
the bench to reach the pedals, and has only lately re-
signed her position.
It is with mingled emotions that I close these old
books with their records quaint, pathetic, and humorous
unconsciously humorous. I must give you one example
of the latter. In the list of church resources for one
year I find this entry :
“ Wood is commonly got by voluntary donations/7
That would be a poor solution of the fuel question this
year.
The later events of church history are known
personally to you all. Indeed you are the makers of
the late history. When these events shall have receded
into the dim past, and are mellowed by time, the histor-
ian of the second centennial will present them in detail.
But listen, I hear the old sexton calling, let us go with
him to the bell tower and he shall finish the story.
Yes, friends, I am a very old man, very old, and they
call me garrulous, but I have seen great sights and great24
Historical Sketch
changes in my time and I like to talk about them. I
have watched the forests disappear. Once the ox-cart,
crawled at my feet, now the air plane flies overhead.
The news that traveled by stage coach is now flashed to ns
by wireless. It is almost time to ring out the last hour of
the century and before I do this I wrant you to look out
of the windows of my little eyrie and let me tell you of
some of the things that are in sight. I miss some of the
old beloved landmarks, they had to be sacrificed in the
march of progress. To the .north. I look upon a busy
street built in the modern way of brick, stone, concrete,
and glass. To the east are the homes of my people with
schools and pleasure grounds. To the west are the in-
dustries. I can see the masts of derricks, and noisy mills
grinding and sawing night and day. These quarries al-
Avays remind me of Mr. Samuel Wright, one of our first
elders, and a faithful follower of the Master. He owned
the farm which, is noAv the property of the St. La whence
Marble Co. He worked hard but the land was thin and
poor, and he could not make a living, so he sold out and
moved west. A few years later one hole in that farm
sold for eighty thousand dollars, and out of that \'erv
hole was quarried the marble for this beautiful church of
ours. He ga\-e liberally of his scanty means and I ha\?e
often hoped that, from the windoAVS of his celestial home,
he could look dowrn and see the church his old farm
yielded. It is a coincidence that this property was
owned by the first pastor, one of the first elders, and
finally produced the church.
To the south I see a busy river; a river that turns
many wheels of industry, a river that quarries and
grinds, and lights and heats. Just beyond this river is
God’s-acre where so many of my people are resting;
their names have just been transferred from the records
here to the stones over there. Be patient with an old
man. I Avant to tell you about some of them. There
lies Parson BeckAvith/and near him six of his first fam-Presbyterian Church
25
ily of elders. There is Harvey D. Smith, (who was
usually called Harvey T).) who came here in 1824 and
for forty years was the trusted advisor in every difficulty,
and the liberal donor whenever money was needed. He
was clerk of the church for twenty-five years, on every
committee, a delegate to the “ anniversaries ”, and to
every convention. , Then there is Mrs. Harvey D. Smith
who was acknowledged to be the sweetest woman who
ever blest this community ; her peaceful face framed in
a halo of gray curls was a benediction ; she looked well
to the ways of her own family; she graced every wed-
ding, and smoothed every dying1 pillow ; she was Lady
Bountiful to all who needed help. She gathered the
children around her and gave them lessons in useful do-
mestic arts and in right living. She was never sick'and
never grew old. But on her 85th birthday the pearly
gates swung open and she passed through.
There is Rev. Stephen Johnson, one of the early mis-
sionaries to Asia. Just think of the moral courage it
took to start on such a trip; and the physical courage too.
Why, at that time, Asia was not much better mapped
and charted than the planet Mars is today.
There is Myron Cushman whose yea was yea and whose
nay was nay, and when he had made rip his mind that
a thing was right an earthquake could not shake him ;
and when convinced of wrong would make all possible
haste to confess and forsake nis error.
And Mrs. Thrall who knew the Bible from cover to
cover and practiced its teachings, too, in her daily life.
And Robert Ormiston, a giant' among men, who used
to swing up the aisle with a big gray Scotch plaid draped
over his massive shoilldersi 1
And a whole family of Hills whose strength and stead-
fastness were scarcely exceeded by the strength and
steadfastness of the Scottish hills from whence they
came ; and they were Connected With the Rodgers sind
Rutherfords of equal strength and Steadfastness.J?6
Historical Sketch
And Father Cone who was just enough of a pessimist
to hold a tight rein on the optimists and keep them from
running away. *
And George Loekie with his genial Scotch smile and
rich Scotch humor; with a cordial hand clasp for every
one, and this hand clasp always included an invitation
to dinner, a night’s lodging, with song and story thrown
in for good measure.
I also see a company of soldiers who learned Christian
patriotism from this desk, and went out to: practice it at
the call of their country, and fell gloriously in the de-
fense of the rights of men.
And another company who talked very little but
headed every subscription and let their money speak
for them.
And still another army, unknown to fame; our Savior
described them in his story of the poor widow and her
two mites; an army always, faithful in the small things
of life. And in the final analysis it is the uncommis-
sioned army, the rank and file, the solid column that
does the work.
But I must not talk longer, and a beatific smile
lighted up his worn features, it is time to ring
out the last chime of the century, and a merry peal
it shall be too. There is no sadness in completing a
cycle of achievement, in rounding out a century of
honor and attainment. This peal raises us to a higher
level, to a broader horizon. This a peal of victory, a
peal of triumph.
** So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.’?
“ Oh, that men would praise the Lord for-his goodness
and for his wonderful works to the children of men.”
Yes friends, we are now standing on the brink of a
new century; the hour is impressive.. Beyond us lies
the future with its boundless possibilities. Unnumbered
and untried avenues of usefulness stretch out before us.
We are only in the infancy of world building. ..Presbyterian Church
27
I see nations engaged in a fearful struggle. I see
thrones and governments tottering. I see crime, cruelty,
carnage, confusion, chaos. This is to be a century of
reconstruction and regeneration. All this is in the fore-
ground.
As my eye tries to fathom the indistinguishable dis-
tance, I wonder, and wonder. Yes, I am only human,
I can not help wondering,—
“ Where, where will be the birds that sing
A hundred years to come ?
The flowers that now in beauty spring
A hundred years to come?
The rosy lips, the lofty brow,
The hearts that beat so gaily now
Oh, where will be love’s beaming eye,
Joy’s pleasant smile and sorrow’s sigh,
A hundred years to come ?
Who’ll press for gold this crowded street
A hundred years to come ?
Who’ll tread these aisles with eager feet
A hundred years to come ?
Pale trembling age and fiery youth
And childhood with its heart of truth
The rich and poor on land and sea
Where will the mighty millions be,
A hundred years to come?
And back from the dim distance comes this answer,—
We all within our graves shall sleep
A hundred years to come;
No living soul for us will weep
A hundred years to come;
But— other men our lands will till
And others then these streets will fill,
While other birds will sing as gay
And, bright the sun shine as today,
A hundred years to come.”
Gouverneur, New York
October, 1917.