Class Book HtyHLt CHRIST'S IIKSI I'RKSHYTKRIAN CHURCH. SOUVENIR OF THE 250™ Anniversary OF (Frist's First Presbyterian (lurch Hempstead, Long Island, N. Y., OCTOBER 14, I5> 16, 1894. Hempstead, N. Y. Inquired Power Press Print, 1895. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. Rev. FRANK MELVILLE KERR. Pastor. ELDERS. J. Edward Davidson. •Luke Fleet, ( !h vrles H. Ludlum. Percy B. Bromfield. William P. Conklin, Thomas F. Gilbert. DEACONS. J. B. Mersereau. Franklin D. Bedell. James Bennett. TRUSTEES. J. Seymour Snedeker. S. A. Smith, s. S. Smith, Jr.. Thomas W. Albertson. Joseph D. Armstrong. John P. H. de Wint. R. W. Rhodes. COnniTTEES. Reception— J. Seymour Snedeker, S. A. Smith. S. S. Smith. Jr., C. H. Ludlum. William F. Conklin, Franklin D. Bedell. James Ben- nett. J. A. Flaacke, J. P. H. de Wint, George S. Emory, R. W. Rhodes. Decoration — Miss Julia H. Thompson, Miss Maude Brownell, Mrs. James K. Boyd, Mrs. M. G. Collins. Entertainment Miss Julia H. Thompson. Collation— Mrs. A. Hendrickson, Mrs. T. E. Seaman, Mrs. S. Sealey, Mrs. Phebe Dykes, Mrs. E. Hinds. Mrs. W. Z. Ketcham, Miss M. Wright, Mrs. E. Bedell, Mrs. J. H. Epworth, Mrs. C. H. Ludlum. Mrs. H. Starr. Mrs. William F. Conklin. Mrs. F. Miller. Mrs. A. m . '. Smith, Miss Aletta Ryder. Miss Minnie Noon, Miss Julia Stoft'el. I.', Miss Sophia Werner. Miss Eunice Hull. Miss Cornelia Bennett. Mrs. E. F. Harold, Mrs. R. Campbell. Mrs. L. Clowes, Mrs. E. Kellum, Mrs. F. M. Kerr, Mrs. W. L. Brownell. Mrs. Matthews. Miss L. Thompson. MUSIC— Mrs. F. W. Werner, Mr. J. H. Roberts. Or<; wis is Dr. Francis P. Hamlet. Miss Viola Bedell. s / WM^ 4^4z^^>£^^ '/? P ' />/?,,/? A%^d^?/€e&can ( if care and woe on the face of her whom, years ago as a lovely and beautiful woman, the man pledged his sacred honor to love: look at the prematurely old faces of his children, born into suffering, squalor and filth: consider the loathsome moral atmos- phere with which they have been enveloped, and which they have been compelled to breathe from the period of infancy; consider not only the wreck of the inebriate's constitution, both physical and moral, but his contaminating influence on his children, by which they are led to grow up in ignorance and wickedness, and tell us, " To what purpose is this waste?" Again, there is sometimes wast;.' of the intellectual forces. We believe, of course, that, so far as civic rights are concerned, all men are. in this country at least, free and equal. And yet we are quite well aware that all men have not the same intellectual force even here. Some are weak in intellect, others are strong. Some are sharp in acquiring knowledge: oth ore are dull. After all, more depends on education than we are apt to think. Somethinu;. of course, depends on dity — on who was one's father or grandfather; but if one will husband and exercise the intellectual forces that God has given him: if he will gradually develop them, raid not waste them by overwork, or excesses in any direction, he need not be so dull and ol fuse as the majority of men are. Men of sluggish intellects often wonder why it is that their minds are not so active as those of some of thetr neighbors: and men of wicked and perverted mind, wonder often why their whole intellectual moral sky appears so lurid and dark, — why their thoughts are so impure and wicked. Now, if tin y would reflect a little, it might not appear so very strange to them: they would p< rceive that they had not fed their minds at all. or that they had fed them with impure aliment. The difference 1 etween nun is not wholly due to birth, or accident, or caprice, or chance: it results, in greai measure, from difference of education. In one case, the capacity given has not been rightly developed; in the other, the development lias been normal. If one take poison into his physical system, the result is pain, disease, and sometimes death. So if one feed upon immoral and vicious literature, he cannot escape its influence; his mind will be perverted, bis thoughts will be impure, and these thoughts will actualize themselves in wicked deeds. Ah! it is sad to see the —11— intellectual waste around us. Why need it be so? "To what purpose is this- waste ?' * Again, there is often a waste in the religious forces. Among these forces is enthusiasm. True enthusiasm is an inspiration, or divine possession, and as such is a great force in the religious life; but if men get, as they often do. a conceit of the divine possession, they are led under the impulse to wild fancies and extravagances either in the< try or act. This conceit of enthusiasm often weakens and wastes. The Christian religion may indeed be attended with excitement and enthu- siasm, which, if rightly controlled, may incite to holy activity and Christian endeavor. But the excitement, which is a mode of enthusi- asm, may be so intense as to blur if not blind the judgment, burn out the affections, and deceive the will. We should be on our guard against undue excitement in regard to any object, especially in regard to the religious life; for the mind is prone to extremes; so prone thereto that the apparently wannest Christian to-day frequently becomes the coldest next week or next year. The intensity of the fires of enthusiasm seem. in some cases at least. to destr< >y the fervors of the heart as effectually as the tires destr< >y the prairie grasses in the autumn. We d< > n< it wish f < > convey the impression that excitement is utterly incompatible with true soul-regeneration: nor that, if it be within legitimate bounds, it may not aid us in the true life begun. But we do wish to convey the impression that, if it be unduly fostered, it may, and often does, become so intense as to blind one's judgment, so that he is led to waste the divine force of his teaching and example. Unity, too, in the church at large, or in any particular and local organization — unity of thought and feeling and action — is a tremendous force. It is a power, against which atheism, infidelity or worldliness are powerless. This phase of the early church did more to convince pagans of the truth of Christianity than almost any other human instrumentality. The pagan's frequent exclamation was: "Behold, how the Christians love another !" And to-day, the united and harmo- nius activities of any individual church are often more powerful in convincing the ungodly of truths of the Christian religion than all the arguments of preachers combined. And yet how often is this force dissipated, and the power of individual Christian example neutralized by dissensions in the church at large, and even sometimes in particular churches of Christ. Answer. O ye garrulous and querulous Christians. "To what purpose is this waste ?" Waste, then, consists in extravagance in our personal expenses for worldly living: in our neglecting to cultivate and equip properly our intellects; in our vicious and immoral indulgences: in our neglecting —12— to use personal efforts in reclaiming the abandoned and the lost; in i iiir squandering the culture we possess; and in the dissipation of our religious forces by wild enthusiasms, by rivalries, envies, and jealous- ies. These are true conceptions of waste. But, considering the purity of the Divine character: considering God's commands to His ancient people in relation to the manner of building and furnishing of the ancient Temple at Jerusalem — the generic type of all houses of wor- ship —the purity and beauty and costliness of the materials used, who will say that, when God's people unite to build a beautiful house of worship, or to repair it when fallen into decay, or to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of its founding, "To what purpose is this waste?" Considering, also, what sacrifices the Master has made to redeem the sonls of the children of men. and, accordingly, what claims He has upon them, who will say that, when His disciples con- tribute to the support of pastors, or missionaries, or to any of the vari- ous instrumentalities for saving the world, - 'To what purpose is this waste?" Those who bear the bag of covetousness in their hearts, or those who are in truth the disciples of the Master ? Waste! The votive offerings made here to the Lord, for the last two hundred and fifty years; the twenty-five pastors who have shep- herded the flock here: who have lived and labored, and, some of them, worn out here. These generations of men and women whose works follow them in this efficient and loving church to-day, are the means by which love and gratitude to Him who died and rose for our justifi- cation, are expressed. Let us. then, on this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of founding this church, bless God for the labors and the sacrifices of the past generations that make this church largely what it is to-day. And may the considerations of the past be an inspiration to its present members to work on, and even wear out. in the Master's service here. The past is secure: with some waste, a vast treasure of the past has heen here saved. The resxilts of two hundred and fifty years are gar- nered here and in heaven. God bless the Presbyterian Church of Hempstead ! After singing Bonar's hymn, the first verse of which is '" Go. labor on : spend ami be spent. Thy joy to do the Father's will : It is the way the Master went ; Should not the servant tread it still ?" the service closed with the benediction by Mr. Finch. —13— The Sunday School exercises were of the usual order, and many visitors were in attendance to show their interest in this important department of church work. The scholars were in full attendance and crowded the chapel to its utmost capacity. The lesson of the day was: "The Draught of Fishes," being found in Luke 5: 1-1 1. It was an appropriate study for teachers and scholars, for it demonstrated conclusively that it is neces- sary to have the presence of the Saviour in order to have suc- cess in spiritual work. A long history, expensive buildings and a large membership do not indicate great achievement in the Kingdom of God. These things may be possessed by churches and yet they may have caught absolutely nothing. But the Word teaches that Christ's presence in the organization will make it a power for good and the means of drawing many persons within the sphere of spiritual activity. The lesson which the young people learned that day should never be for- gotten, for in a few years they will be called upon to uphold the church and they must know the principles which will make them successful in their work. The prayer meeting of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was largely attended by all the young of the congregation. The leader, Mrs. S. H. Powell, spoke in a practical and interesting manner upon the subject : " How Christ Helps us in our Daily Tasks." The members then con- tributed their share to the success of the. meeting and once agrain manifested the value of such an organization in the church. Here the personal element in religious matters is brought to the consideration of the individual and causes each member to realize that Christ wishes us to serve him in public as well as in private, in speaking for him in the meeting as well as in acting for him in our daily lives. May this truth never depart from the minds and hearts of our young people ! At the evening service in the church the building was crowded to its greatest capacity. Invitations had been sent to the other churches of the village, and the Methodists gave up their service and worshipped with us in our church. The Rev. —14— J. W. Maynard, pastor of the M. E. Church of our village, was invited to the platform and offered prayer. The Rev. Franklin Noble, D. D., who was pastor herefrom 1875 to 1880, preached an able, eloquent and practical sermon upon the suggestive text found in Genesis 26, 18: "And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham; and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.'' We give the substance of his sermon as it appeared in the Inquirer : " He briefly reviewed the events leading to the text, showing that as Isaac reverenced his father, so it is a good thing for us to reverence our fathers, and like Isaac dig anew the wells made by them. This people, remembering the days gone by and the associations connected with them, are showing good sense in honoring: the heritage that has come down to them from the past. "Of the wells which our fathers digged, and which it would profit us to dig over again, the speaker mentioned first, the Bible; second, the Sabbath, and third, the church-going habit. Under the latter head he referred to some of his experiences during his pastorate here. We sometimes, he said, do not respect as much as we ought the fathers who have gone before. We ask what has the Rev. Richard Denton, and those of his time, who lived two hundred and fifty years ago, to do with us. They had the Bible, and that was about all they had ; they had, also, the Sabbath habit, digging these wells as God directed them to. It would be well for us if we dig them over, and, Like Isaac, call them by the old names, looking with rev- erence upon the things which our fathers saw with the eye of faith, and thus by that faith have the joy of the church, and the church ami the Bible of our fathers, the same yesterday, to-day and forever. " After singing " More love to Thee, oh Christ, more love to Thee.'' the benediction was pronounced and the first day of the celebration was fittingly closed. KKV. FRANK MKLVII.I.K KKKK. MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1894. The services of the second clay of the celebration began at three o'clock in the afternoon. The opening- voluntary was rendered by the organist, Dr. F. P. Hamlet, after which the congregation joined in singing hymn 324 : "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word !" The Scripture Lesson was read by the Rev. Mr. Denton, and prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Gilmore, of the Pres- bytery of Hudson, one of our guests. The pastor then extended a greeting to all who were pres- ent and welcomed the strangers who had come to enjoy such an interesting event in the life of the church. Among those present were three descendants of Rev. Richard Denton, the founder of this church. They were Miss M. Wilken, of Brook- lyn ; Mrs. S. B. Bogart, of Staten Island, and the Rev. James M. Denton, of Yaphank, Long Island. The congregation then sang the old, but spirited hymn, which begins as follows : " I love thy kingdom, Lord ! The house of thine abode, The church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood." After the singing of this hymn, the pastor delivered the following historical address : Historical Address by the Rev. Frank Melville Kerr. Two centuries and a half take us hack almost to the beginning of civilization in the western world. When we go to the year 1644, we are almost able to see the Santa Maria, as she comes in sight of a new continent; and we are almost permitted to shake hands with the first English settlers, who colonized the fair regions of Virginia. The study of the history of this individual church enables us to understand the Providence back of every strange and wonderful event. —16— Columbus did not blunder across the ocean and open up a hemisphere accidentally. There was method in his apparent madness, although it was not seen by his companions and almost doubted by himself. For- tunate winds filled his sails, and faith possessed his heart. It is no wonder that he named the place of landing San Salvador, which means Hol.v Saviour. Last year the world gathered at Chicago to honor the brave discoverer and witness the progression of 400 years. Of all the wonderful things of that great exhibition to interest me most, was a simple inscription in the electrical building. When Morse completed his first telegraph line, he sent this message: "What hath God wrought !" The great inventor meant to teach by that that the discov- eries of man are the means of Divine revelation. The world places Columbus among the heroes of the ages: but the student of history sees in him a means for the further unfolding of God's plans with the human family. Europe was changing at that time, and soon there was needed a religious, as 'well as commercial, safety valve. Why should Luther nail his theses against the church door just a few years after the dis- covery of America ? Because all things were ready for a great change of thought, and the reformation would become a success through the discovery of a new continent. These facts touch us in considering the history of this church, for out of the reformation came Presbyterianism. and in this great and free land was found an opportunity to worship God according to the dictates of conscience. EUBOPEAN PRESBYTERIANISM . Reaching back to such a remote period, as the history of this church docs, w? cannot properly consider it without noting that Presbyterian- ism takes its rise with John Calvin, the Genevan preacher. Calvin saw that it was essential to the success of Luther's vigorous warfare against papacy, to have some formative principles at work. Luther tore down: but Calvin built up. From Calvin's logical and organizing brain came the Presbyterian system. He however went to the New Testament for the 1 asis of his organization and recognized that the Apostolic Church should furnish material for church construction. His system, however, did not have an easy time, for some thought they saw in it an ecclesiastical "iron heel," and did not care to con- Iroiit another pope, even if he came in democratic guise. During the reigns of Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I.. Presbyterianism passed through many trials and difficulties. It met with opposition on almost every hand — from the Romanist to the most enthusiastic Independent. —17— The Sovereigns of England, while they professed great opposition to Rome, yet in their hearts they regarded themselves as Protestant popes "by divine right. Puritanism, which was Presbyterian for the most part, was regarded by the sovereigns as contrary to the Word of God and specially detrimental to the interests of the kingdom. They con- stantly felt the opposition of the rulers, for we read that the Huguenot Presbyterians of Jersey and Guernsey were deprived of their church privileges and witnessed the presence of established representatives in their old places. The abuses of the reign of James I. made necessary the Puritanical spirit, and, soon after his enthronement, there was a revival of import- ant ecclesiastical questions. In 1604, however, the king decided to put an end to this trouble by issuing "The Book of Canons," which con- tained three articles to which every minister in the realm had to sub- scribe or lose his benefices. As a result of this overt act, from 100 to 300 ministers lost their places, and were not allowed the privileges of preaching in the kingdom. Many of these ministers went to Holland and established Presbyterian churches which afterward exerted a good influence for the cause in England. Notwithstanding the strong opposition to Puritanism on the part of Church and State under archbishop Laud and James I. and Charles I., the principles of these devout and God fearing men gained ground and enlisted the sympathy of many who depended upon the Establish- ment, regardless of the' fact that withdrawal of patronage, and perhaps exile, awaited them. In 1618 a royal proclamation was drawn up by Bishop Morton for James I. which was called " The Book of Sports." The object of this proclamation was to encourage the people who had attended divine service to spend the remaining part of the day in such "lawful sports" as dancing, archery, leaping, vaulting, May games, Whitsun ales, Mor- ris dances, setting of May poles, etc. This royal document was aimed at the Puritans. The king knew that the Established Church would regard this document as both lawful and expedient, and the Bishops knew it too, while the Puritans, inasmuch as they were not willing to grant the claim of the king as head of the Church, would look upon it as contrary to the Word of God and refuse to abide by its injunctions. This would bring the Puritans to another test which might result in the advantage of the king and the Established Church. To carry this plan to completion the king ordered this " Book of Sports" be read in every church in the kingdom. Many of the dissenting ministers refused to do this, preferring the wrath of the king and bishops to the violation of conscientious scruples. —18— Then it was that the Pilgrims and Puritans sought refuge in another country where they could worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience and remain unmolested by an earthly sovereign and scheming bishops. The discovery of America, a little over a cen- tury previous to this time, brought to these religious wanderers the hope and "prospect of a permanent home. God had prepared a way for them, although, when they read about this new land, they little knew the significance of it from the point of view of religious liberty and freedom. After much trouble the Pilgrims secured the permission of the the king, through the London Branch of the Virginia Company, to set- tle in America between the parallels of latitude 34 and 41 N. [See " Congregationalists in America, Williston Walker, 1894, p, 80."] According to this grant, they had no right to go above the situation of the present city of New York. But a strange Providence brought them to the uninhabited shores of the present New England States at a time of the year when it was necessary for them to land and protect them- selves from the inclemencies of severe winter weather. While they had no legal right, so far as the king was concerned, in this part of America, yet it was doubtless the means of saving them from the eccle- siastical conflicts with the Establishment which would certainly have followed had they gone to Virginia, as their charter required, for the Church of England was the one established in that colony. As one stands to-day upon the famous Plymouth Rock and thinks of the privations and sufferings of the Pilgrim Fathers, in order to gain some civil and religious liberty, he is sure to rejoice in the Providence of God which discovered to the world an asylum for the oppressed. One's meditations may be thus expressed: " A Rock in the wilderness welcomed our sires. From in mdage far o'er the dark, rolling sea ; On that, Holy Altar they kindled the fires, Jehovah! which glows in our bosoms for Thee." AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAXIXM . The success of the Mayflower expedition soon brought many Puri- tans to the New England States. Walker, in his history of the Con- gregationalists, page 96. says that between the years 1630 and 1640 fully twenty thousand Puritans came to this country. They arrived in Massachusetts first and afterwards many went to Connecticut, being at- t racted there by the rich and fertile land in the great Connecticut valley .as well as being anxious lest the Dutch and Plymouth settlement should preempt the territory. This is the reason doubtless that Connecticut —19— favored Presbyterianism and adopted that form of government in many particulars. Under '"Presbyterian Churches in U. S.," Schaff-Herzog Encyclopaedia says that many of the Presbyterians coming here from England affiliated with the Congregational churches in New England, thinking that they differed little from their own. Especially was this the case in Connecticut, where Consociationism, modified Presbyteri- anism, had previously and generally prevailed. The Hartford North Association in 1 799 declared ' ' that the constitution of the churches in the State of Connecticut is not congregational, but contains the essen- tials of the Church of Scotland, or the Presbyterian Church in America," and "that the churches in Connecticut are not now. and never were from the earliest period of our settlement, Congregational churches." It is recorded that they were often spoken of as Presbyterian churches. All of this has great bearing upon facts which we are about to relate. Among those who left their churches in England and came to this country on account of opposition to Dissenters was a non-comformist minister of the Presbyterian type,* by the name of Richard Denton. He was born in Yorkshire, England, in 15S6, of a good and reputable family, and received his education at the University of Cambridge, from which institution he graduated in 1623. For a period of seven years after his graduation he was the settled minister of Coley Chapel, Halifax, Yorkshire, England. But the "Book of Sports" and many other acts on the part of the king and bishop were of such a character that this young divine could not accept them and rest conscientiously by their conclusions; so in 1630 he gave up his work and, with many followers, set sail for America. There is something suggestive about the year in which he gave up his work in Halifax. In 1629 the Puritans obtained a grant from the king for settlement in New England, and in 1630 fully one thousand Puritans reached this new country. It was at that time that Gov. Winthrop arrived in Salem, and in all probability Richard Denton came over with him.f He [Denton] labored first at Watertown, Mass., but in 1635, on account of opposition to his Presbyterianism by the Congregationalists of Massachusetts, he started a new settlement in Connecticut, and gave it the name Weathersfield. In 1641 he became the owner of valuable real estate in Stamford, Conn., then in the jurisdiction of New Haven, and, after his removal to Hempstead in 1644 he sold his place to the Rev. John Bishop, his successor in work at Stamford. *See life of Rev. Oliver Heywood, p. 82, Union Seminary Library- tThompson's Hist. L. I., vol. II, p. 19. —20— Thompson in his History of Long Island says that many of his fol- lowers in the Old Woidd came with him to this new land, and after staying for a while at Watertown, Weathersfield and Stamford, they came with their minister to Hempstead and established their church upon a permanent basis. Another fact is to be noticed which shows the Presbyterian ten- dency 7 of these first white settlers on this part of the Island. This terri- tory was obtained from the Dutch government with hoadquartars at what is now New York city, and Governor William Kieft (or Kierst) in his patent, or ground brief, bearing the date Nov. 16, 1661, gave the people permission '• to build a town or towns, with such fortifications as to them shall seem expedient, with a temple or temples to use and exercise the Reformed Religion, which they profess, with the ecclesi- astical discipline thereunto belonging * * *" (Thompson's His- tory of L. I., vol. II, p. 5.) This patent with the letter of Dutch pas- tors show that Denton was a Presbyterian. The Dutch pastors wrote as follows: "At Hempstead, seven Dutch miles from here, [New York now] they have some Independents, our own persuasion, and Presl y- terians. They have a Presbyterian minister named Richard Denton, an honest, pious and learned man." (Briggs, "American Presbyterian- ism," p. 102.) It is true that the Dutch were in this part of the New World pre- vious to the coming of the Puritans and that they had their church established on Manhattan Island, where the present city of New York is situated, in the year 1628. When the English took possession of this Island about thirty years later, they endeavored to establish their form in all churches. The existence of the Dutch church, however, did not >cease; but continued under all the circumstances and tendencies which were directly and indirectly opposed to thee Reformed order. As it is well known, this Dutch church was Presbyterial in its organization; but has been known in history as the Dutch Reformed Church, and at a somewhat recent date has dropped the word Dutch so that it is spoken of as the Reformed Church of America. Although having many principles in common, this denomination and the one known as the Presbyterian have existed side by side as distinct organizations. Our claim is not that the Hempstead Church is the oldest Protestant and Presl yterial in form of the churches in America, for the church in New York mentioned above has that distinction; but that it is the old- est of the denomination wh.ch has always been called by the name Presbyterian. As the town of Southampton was established in 1640, it might .appear that the church of that place is a trifle older than the Hempstead —21— church. We are told, however, that the first pastor of that church, the Rev. Abraham Pierson, arrived in Boston from England in 1639 and joined the church (Congregational) of that place. The following year he united with the people of Lynn, who desired a settlement on the eastern portion of Long Island. From the fact of his uniting with the Boston church, we judge that he was an Independent. A quotation from Thompson's History of L. I., vol. 1, page 340, shows that previous to 1700 that church was congregational in its government. The refer- ence is as follows: "The Suffolk presbytery was established during his time (the pastorate of the Rev. Sylvanus AVhite. 1727-1782) and the con- gregational gave place to the presbyterial form of church government." The Rev. William H. Moore, D.D., in his History of St. George's Church, page 57, quotes a letter containing information gained from the Rev. John Thomas, the first rector of St. George's. In this letter are these words: •'In the town spot of Hempstead is hut one Presbyterian meeting house, the only one in the parish; hut they are so poor and few that it is with difficulty that they maintain their minister." While this signifies that there was poverty among our Presbyterian ancestors, it certainly demonstrates the fact that at that time, 1704, the church existed as Presbyterian. As Mr. Thomas himself states that the town ever since its settlement was supplied with a Dissenting ministry, it is evident, from what has been previously mentioned, that it was of the Presbyterian order. The name of our church, Christ's First Presbyterian Church, which has come down to us from the early period, is an evi- dent indication that the founders knew that they were establishing the first Presbyterian church in this country and gave it the name above mentioned. The Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge, an honored pastor of this church from 1838 to 1849, says that none of the oldest of his time could remember hearing the oldest of their young days account for the name of the church in any other way. Richard Denton was pastor o£ the church until 1659 and received a salary of £70, equal in our money to $350, which was paid in such articles as were most useful and comfortable. It is stated by one writer (Woodbridge) that the money was raised at a town rate as a matter of course. His leaving is involved in a mystery, as he left four sons behind him, two of whom, Nathaniel and Daniel, established Jamaica, in the year 1656, and aided in the plantation of Elizabethtown, N. J., in 1664. Mr. Denton's successor at Halifax says that he (Denton) returned to England in 1659 and spent the remainder of his life in Essex, where he died in 1662 at the advanced age of 76 years. It is always interesting to hear as much as possible about these early men, and anything in reference to their personal appearance and special characteristics is remarkably attractive. It is indeed gratifying to us that Cotton Mather was able to give a description of our illustri- ous founder. He says: •• Among these clouds (meaning the ministers who early came to New England) was one pious and learned Mr. Richard Denton, a Yorkshire man, who, having watered Halifax, in England, where, first at Weathersfield, and then at Stamford, his doctrine dropped as the rain, his speech distilled as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass. Though he were a little man, yet he had a great soul; his well accom- plished mind, in his lesser body, was an Iliad in a nut shell. I think he was blind of an eye. yet he was not the least among the Seers of Israel; he saw a very considerable portion of those things which eye hath not seen. He was far from cloudy in his conceptions and princi- ples of divinity, whereof he wrote a system entitled 'Soliliquia Sacra,' so accurately, considering the four-fold state of man, in his created purity, contracted deformity, restored b< auty. and celestial glory, that judicious persons, who have seen it, very much lament the churches being so much deprived of it. At length he got into heaven beyond the clouds, and so beyond storms; waiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the clouds of heaven, when he will have his rewards among the saints." Work upon the first meeting house commenced almost immediately after the arrival of these illustrious settlers on this part of the Island; but it was not till 1648 that the structure was completed. It stood at the northwestern part of the town, near Burley Pond, which is now the northwest corner of Fulton and Franklin Sts. The building was twenty four feet square, and had connected with it a fort or stockade, for pro- tection in case the Indians manifested any hostility. At those times there was naturally a close connection between the religious and civil life of a town, and especially was this the case in a new settlement. The same place was used for religious and civil purposes, and this was the case with the meeting house just mentioned. But after a time on account of an increasing congregation, they ceased holding church services in it and used it for town purposes entirely. In 1770 it was sold and removed to North Hempstead. "At A Jeneral townd meeting held in Hempstead the 7th day of Janeuary in the yere of our Lord 1(177 it was agreed on by the major vote that they should bild a meeting house." This house, as afterward agreed upon by a town meeting, was 30 feet long, 24 wide and 12 high, with a leanto on each side. The building was completed in 1679 and stood a few rods south of the present position of the Episcopal church, where Front St. now runs. From a letter written by the Rev. Mr. —23— Jenney, we learn that this meeting house, which was enlarged in 1 Too, had a roof covered with cedar shingles and sides clapboarded with oak and the interior hoarded with pine. There were no pews in our use of the term, but simply benches, which could he easily removed. A brook separated the church from the parsonage, which occupied the position of the present rectory. The parsonage was erected in 1682 and occupied the site just men- tioned. It served the purpose of its erection for over one hundred years and, having been sold, was removed in 1793. at which time the present Episcopal parsonage was erected. Immediately after the departure of Richard Denton, in 1659, the church sent "Joseph Meade on a voyage from Stamford to Fairfield, about procuring a minister," allowing him the extravagant sum of nine shillings for his expenses. Evidently travelling was cheap, and the ministers beyond the temptation of "filthy hi ere." This attempt, however, was unsuccessful, and efforts had to he made in another direction. In 1660 they secured the services of the Rev. Jonas Fordham, who remained here for several years and gave such satisfaction in his ministrations of the Gospel, that the town voted him allotments with the other inhabitants and a 300 acre estate in addition. The next minister who came to this congregation was Jeremiah Hohart, who was called on the 6th day of May, 1683. He was offered a house and three acre lot. fifty acres of woodland and liberty of com- mons for his cattle as long as he remained their minister. The salary was the same as paid to the first minister, £70 in money, which was so hard to raise by voluntary subscriptions that Mr. Hohart, in 1690, was obliged to resort to process of law to secure certainty of payment. Thompson says that he removed in 1696 hecause some of his people became Quakers and the others, without compulsion, were unable to raise all his salary. He preached at Jamaica for a short time and then went to Haddam, Conn., where he was installed Nov. 14, 1700, and died March 17. 1717, aged 87 years. He must have heen a man of great vitality for he died on Sunday afternoon only a short time after he preached an earnest sermon. There is an incident which shows how they went into details in calling a minister. Among other things they mentioned that his fire wood would he delivered free of charge. One objected to the call and five to the fire wood proviso. Woodhridge says that he was the grandfather of the celebrated David Brainard. It may be as Woodhridge points out that the " Ministerial act" of 1695 had much to do with the removal of Mr. Hohart in 1696, as that act -24— made him wholly dependent upon the voluntary subscriptions of his members. If this is the case it throws a flood of light upon the difficulty which arose at this time with the Episcopalians. Notwithstanding the fact that the Presbyterians were greatly dis- couraged because the Episcopalians had possession of church, parsonage and lands formerly occupied by themselves, they did not give up hope ; but held meetings in different places in the village until 1722, when according to Thompson and Woodbridge, they actually completed a church of their own. (Woodbridge says that this building was near the site of the first church, which was near Burley Pond, now the cor- ner of Fvdton and Franklin streets.) The fourth church, which the congregation built in 1762, stood, as nearly as can be ascertained, from the authorities above mentioned, on the site of the present church. They enjoyed religious services among themselves and preaching by supplies, until the Rev. Joshua Hart became the settled pastor in 1772. But it seemed that one calamity after another visited this strug- gling congregation of worshippers. The Revolutionary war began in 1776 and all dissenting churches were treated in a harsh and cruel manner. It is recorded that Mr. Hart was remarkably loyal to the American cause and preached boldly against the indifference to it which characterized so many in Hempstead. At one time, while he was preaching at a chapel east of here, a British company approached the place, and, hearing that Mr. Hart was about to preach, the captain sent the band in front of the church to distract the hearers and drown the voice of the preacher. Mr. Hart asked the congregation to remain seated and hear the music. After playing for half an hour the music- ians became tired and departed, allowing the preacher to finish his sermon. This incident speaks well for the patience of the congregation and the determination of the minister. The church here in the village, and the one moved here from Fos- ter's Meadow, were used by the soldiers as a place to keep their horses, and after they went away nothing but a shell was left. Stephen Gil- dersleeve, who made a statement in 1840 about events at this period as he remembered them, is authority for the assertion that the British soldiers were frequently frightened from their posts of duty near the church because they thought that the ghosts of former Presbyterian ministers frequently appeared. Tims did " conscience make cowards " of the brave. After the war was over they repaired the building and had a touch- ing service at the reopening. A Mr. Burnet, of Jamaica, preached the sermon, and the congregation were so affected by the Providential cir- cumstances that enabled them to assemble in a church building for o V. o t/i 23 —25— worship the first time in eight years that, after the service, they all shook hands and. shed tears of rejoicing. This edifice stood until March, 1803, when it was totally destroyed by fire. (I was told by an old member of the church that the church caught fire from a burning house on Greenwich street opposite the Episcopal rectory. The wind was high, and, before the people were aware of the danger, brands had been carried to the church and the building set on fire.) A meeting was called to discuss the feasibility of erecting a new church. At this meeting only six, one says, nine, another, were present. Elder Beadell said that it was impossible to do anything towards a new church. "O, yes!" said one of the younger men, who afterwards became Elder Pine, "we can build a church." •' Well, said the old gentleman, "I will do as much as any of you." As a result of the courage of these few men a new building was soon erected, which served as a church until 1846, when the present structure was put up, and the old church moved to the corner of Fulton and Washington streets, and remodeled at an expense of $2,441.86, for par- sonage purposes. The parsonage previous to the one now used is still standing, being used as a residence and place of business by Mr. T. A. Carman, stove dealer, on the east side of Main street, between Fulton and Front streets. That house and lot were sold for $1,150, and the lot now occupied by the parsonage was purchased for $317.10. The present church was built during the pastorate of the Rev. Syl- vester Woodbridge, Jr., and cost about $7,000. Mr. Woodbridge worked hard and faithfully to raise the money for this church building, and, as a pastor, was held in high esteem by the congregation. There are a number of members at the present time who remember Mr. Woodbridge very distinctly. The Rev. Joshua Hart preached for the congregation at two dif- ferent periods after the Revolutionary war ; but in 1818, when the Rev. Charles Webster came, the church was blessed with a long pastorate by an excellent minister. He was pastor till 1887, and was followed by Mr. Woodbridge in 1838. There is a dream of interest which can appropri- ately be given in relation to the coming of Mr. Webster. A minister by the name of Andrews supplied the pulpit for one year about 1818, and the congregation were sufficiently pleased with him to extend him a call. He accepted the call, and a day was appointed to go for his goods so that he would be in time for the coming Sabbath. The Saturday night previous Elder Pine dreamed that he stood at the southeast of the church and was surprised to see the steeple fall to the ground. While he was wondering at the strange proceeding, a better steeple in every way took the place of the old one. The next day Mr. Andrews declined -26— to come, and, when the congregation secured the services of Mr. Web- ster. Mr. Pine thought his dream had come true. At any rate the pas- te irate of Mr. Webster was one of great success. When he came the church numbered 62 members, and at his departure in 1837, the enroll- ment was 179. Prime gives the following: 1811, 23 members; 1817. 57: 1820, 7.">: 1828, 96; 1832, 131 : 1837. 150; 184."). 220. The Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge enjoyed a pleasant and profitable pastorate from 1838 to 1849, and resigned to go to California as a missionary. He was the first minister of the Old School in California. His life was spared to see Presbyterianism grow to such an extent that in 1876 they had two Synods. There is a paper among others in the box of records which indicates the amount raised by subscription for the purchase of a horse, so Mr. Woodbridge could visit throughout the extensive parish. At the pres- ent time, however, as a result of the progressive age. the pastor becomes his own motive power and flies on '-the wings of the wind" over the smooth and level Macadam to the remotest extent of parish bounds. Mr. Woodbridge was followed by Charles M. Shields, who was pastor during 1849 and 1850. At a later date he became a professor in Princeton Theological Seminary, where he has done excellent service in training young men for the gospel ministry. Mr. Dunn, a former pastor, who received instruction from Dr. Shields, speaks of him as being " one of the most gifted philosophers and scholars of the land." He was followed by the Rev. N. C. Locke, who was pastor from 1850 to "60, and was succeeded by the Rev. J. J. A. Morgan. Mr. Morgan was here during the exciting times of the civil war and the church was more or less disturbed, but not threatened seriously, by the great issues of that perplexing time. Rev. J. B. Finch came in 1*67 and labored until 1875, when he resigned on account of ill health. He gave place to the Rev. Franklin Noble, who served successfully till 18*0. The Rev. F. E. Hopkins preached here as a supply during 1881 and '82, and pastor until 1884, when he accepted a call to a Congregational church in Bridgeport, Conn. The Rev. Charles E. Dunn came fr< >m Unit >n Theological Seminary, New York City, where he had just graduated, and remained pastor until called to the pastorate of the Third Presby- terian Church at Albany, N. Y., in 1888. In January of 1890 the Rev. John A. Davis, who was a pastor in a Newark. N. J., church, accepted the call of this church and immediately entered upon his ministerial duties. In September of L893, he accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church of Nyack-on-the-Hudson and shortly afterwards began his pastoral work in that place. On April 25th, 1*94, the Rev. Frank Melville Kerr, a graduate of Alleghany College, Meadville, Pa., class of 1888, and of Union Theological Seminary, New York, class of 1891, and until then pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Chester, N. J., was installed as pastor, being the twenty-fifth minister who has served this congregation since 1644. It is not necessary to go into the details of the pastorates of the ministers since the war, as they are familiar to the older persons and known by tradition to the younger people. THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE CHURCH. The membership of the church is now over 300, and of this number between 30 and 40 reside in or near Mineola, where they have the privi- lege of attending service in the Union Chapel on Sunday evenings. The Sunday School of Mineola is reported as being in a good condition, and their beautiful Chapel speaks well for the interest which the inhabitants take in religion. Several families of our church reside in Garden City. Our Sunday School has an enrollment of 268. and when all the scholars attend, the Chapel is not large enough to comfortably accom- modate the school. The present Chapel was erected in is.')."") and dedi- cated in 1856. During the Superintendency of J. Edward Davidson, the old benches and seats, which characterized this and most all Chapels a few years ago, were replaced by chairs, and the room was given the pleasant appearance which it now possesses. However, there is a fund started for the purpose of having a new Chapel at some con- venient time. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor is in good con- dition, having about one hundred members and conducting interesting and profitable meetings. The work which the Society does among the young people is a great benefit to the church in every way. During the year ending April 1st, 1894, the church had money transactions to the amount of $3,114. and since that time improvements have been made in both the church and parsonage. Although the present building was erected in 1846 and is of the old style of architec- ture, yet the interior has been kept in good condition and is to-day a pleasant place in which to worship God. During the summer of 1891 an important change and improvement were made by the erection of an extension to the back of the church, the removal of the organ from the gallery, and the purchase of the new and beautiful instrument which is now in use. The expenses of this change amounted to about $2,500. A society of young ladies, called " The Willing "Workers," raised the money for the new organ, and at the same time, demonstrated to the satisfaction of the congregation that its title was well chosen. —28— THE CHURCH'S CONTINUOUS EXISTENCE. It has been stated by some, who are anxious to have the honor of the oldest Presbyterian church go in another direction, that the Hemp- stead church has not had a continued existence. It is true that for a number of years after 1700, on account of the contest with, and final victory by, the Episcopal party, the church had no settled minister. But that does not necessarily mean that the church lost its existence. They were poor, few and confronted by a strong and eloquent Episco- pal ministry : and had to get what supplies they could. That they kept together at all and managed to perpetuate the name and victories of the church, indeed, is the miracle. At the present time we do not say that a church ceases to exist because there is no pastor or church build- ing. The Brooklyn Tabernacle has perished in the flames ; but the congregation has not ceased to exist, and will not. until tin y agree to disband and go as they individually desire. Woodbridge, in a letter written from San Francisco, Sept. 9, 1876, to the Rev. Franklin Noble, then pastor, says that he could never learn from any of the old people of his day. whose memory went back to a period preceding the revolu- tionary war, that this church had ever been re-organized ; but on the contrary had always been here. The subjoined list of pastors and supplies, which has been pre- pared after careful search, shows that there was little time when the church was without the ministrations of the Gospel. The list is as follows: Richard Denton, 1644-59: Jonas Fordham. 1659-1681: Jere- miah Hobart, 1682-1696; Joseph Lamb, 1717-1725; Benjamin Woosey. 1736-1756; Abraham Kettletas, 1760-1765, stated supply; Hotchkiss, 1770-'71, supply; Joshua Hart, 1772-'76, supply; and again, 1787-'90, supply; Samuel Sturges. 1791-93 supply ; Davenport. 1794-98, supply ; Joshua Hart, again. 1797-1803, supply: William P. Kupors, L805-'ll, pastor; Josiah Andrews, 1812-16, supply; Samuel Robertson. 1816— '18, supply; Charles Webster; March 16, 1818-37, pastor; Sylvester Wood- bridge, Feb.. 1838-'49, pastor: Charles M. Shields. 1849-'50, pastor: N. C. Locke, 1N50-60, pastor; J. J. A. Morgan, 1860-'67, pastor: James B. Finch, 1867-75, pastor; Franklin Noble, 1875-80. pastor: F. E. Hopkins, 1881-'82, supply; F. E. Hopkins, 1882-'84, pastor; Charles E. Dunn, July 21. 1884-88; John A. Davis. Jan.. 1890-Sept., '93; and Frank Melville Kerr, April 25th, 1894, present pastor. Criticism of the continuity of Presbyterianism in Hempstead during the eighteenth century advances the following points : 1 . The records of this Century are not definite as to the details of the church's actions. —29- 2. Dr. Hays, in his book entitled "Presbyterians,'' says that the Hempstead Church died in the year 1729. 3. The fact that there were some supplies at different intervals during this time, when the continuity of the organization is in dis- pute, shows the presence of Congregationalism and the absence of Pres- byterianism. This criticism also says that an organization which meets in a private house is not a church. In reply to these points, it would be possible to argue at length and show that these conditions, when thoroughly understood, permit of different interpretation than has been placed upon them by those indulging in criticism. We simply reply to these points as briefly as possible: 1 . The records of the 18th Century are not preserved f or us because they were consumed in the fire which destroyed the church building in the year 1803. None lament the loss sustained at that time more than the present writer, for there is no doubt about the fact that those destroyed records would have accounted for the difficulties of that eventful Century. 2. Dr. Hays doubtless did not make full investigation of the facts here in Hempstead otherwise he would not have written that this church died in 1729. We quote a letter written in 1728 by the Rev. Robert Jenney. an Episcopal clergyman, who is mentioned as the one with whom the records of the present Episcopal Church commenced. He says : "The Church's right to all this, [the parsonage, etc.,] is hotly disputed, and I am often threatened with an ejectment ; first, by the heirs of one Ogdon. from whom the purchase was made ; secondly, by the Pres- byterians, who plead, from the purchase having been made by them, before any church [meaning the Episcopal church] was settled here, and from their minister having been long in possession of it. that it belongs to them." While this may show that they had been driven out of their possessicm, yet it certainly demonstrates that they still existed here in Hempstead and were able to make some kind of a noticeable resistance to the powers which were against them. It is to be noticed that this letter was written June 27th, 1728, just the year preceding the date of the death of this church as given by Dr. Hays. This cir- cumstance does not indicate immediate ecclesiastical death. Another fact must be borne in mind, which is of importance as far as circumstantial evidence is concerned, for it shows the way the Episcopal party conquered in their struggle for the possession of land and property owned and formerly used by the Presbyterians. It was not until 1735 that the question was settled. In that year George II. gave a charter to the Episcopal party which embraced all the land and —30— buildings in question. If it was necessary for the followers of the Rev. Robert Jenney to secure kingly protection for their claimed pos- sessions, it is evident that the Presbyterians must have aided the effort to eject them. If such an inference is allowable, it certainly shows that Dr. Hays is not correct in stating that the Presbyterian Church in this place ceased in 1729. There is still another consideration to be noticed. In 1722 the Pres- byterians erected a new church building on site of the first church. according to Thompson's MSS. for the third edition of his history ; and again in 1762. they built another church on the site of the present building. Now, the question comes up. if the Presbyterian Church died in 1729. according to Dr. Hays' statement, how did they manage, in less than a generation, to build a new church? Thompson and Woodbridge, a former pastor of this church, both agree in these dates as to the erection of church edifices. It seems allowable to conclude that the difficulties of that period did not kill the Presbyterians. We always have believed that the Presbyterians are made of good material, and we cannot give up the idea that our ecclesiastical ancestors were possessed of good qualities. If the original church, founded by Richard Denton, died in 1729, then the present Presbyterian Church must have originated much later. But we need only to refer to the testimony of the Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge, mentioned above, that none of the old people, whose mem- ory went back to a period before the Revolutionary War. ever heard of any tradition as to the reorganization of this church. They believed that it had always been here. 3. In reference to supplies, it need oidy be said that circumstances placed this church in such a position that it was necessary to have min- isters come as supplies. There are Presbyterian churches at the present time served by supplies : but no one thinks of depriving them of their Presbyterianism on that account. The fact that they had pastors shows that they wished that condition of ecclesiastical relationship to continue indefinitely : but poverty, opposition and disaster often inter- fered with the consummation of their wish. Those who have seen the struggles of worthy congregations should not fail to appreciate the efforts they make to continue their organizations. There were times of severe oppression and opposition when it was necessary for them to meet from house to house; and yet criticism is made of such action as decidedly irregular. We are willingly to let the Apostle Paul pass judgment upon the regularity of such a proceed- ing, when circumstances require it. In Philemon 2, he says : " And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the -31— CHURCH IN THY HOUSE/' Again in Colossians 4 : 15, he says : "Salute the brethren which are in Eaodicea, and Nymphas, and the CHURCH WHICH IS IN HIS HOUSE." And again in I. Cor. 16 : 19, he says: " Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the CHRIST THAT IS IN THEIR HOUSE." The fact is that the time for which no minister or supply can be found was always one of some extraordinary circumstance over which the church had no control : but that does not prove that the organization ceased from off the face of the earth and required the enthusiasm and example of churches in other towns to revive it. Nathaniel Prime (History of L.I.) p. 282, quotes a letter from the Rev. Mr. Jenney to show that for nearly a third of the 18th century this church was not destitute of preaching. CONCLUSION. As the followers of Mohammed look to Mecca as the place where their religion originated, so the hosts of Presbyterians throughout this land look to Hempstead as the place where was established and settled the first Presbyterian Church in America. This is not only an ecclesi- astical, but national event. The influence of Presbyterianism upon the national development of this country has been remarkably extensive. Presbyterians have been loyal to the government because they believe in government. When the early statesmen were endeavoring to settle this country upon a right foundation, they wisely learned lessons from the integrity of the Presbyterian system ; and our country is Presby- terian to the extent of its representation. We then ask the patriot, regardless of his denominational tendency, to join with us in celebrat- ing the beginning of Presbyterianism in this western world because of the blessings which have come to all alike from the good influence which it has exerted. " The Mother of Presbyterianism " gladly welcomes her children to this her two hundred and fiftieth birthday. The Presbyterian churches* of many of the neighboring villages, which were formerly within the bounds of this parish, may well rejoice with us in the Mother who has brought to light and tenderly nourished, under difficulties, trials and persecutions, so many Gospel children. To those of us who are permitted to serve in this church at the present time, there come important and suggestive lessons. We stand on historic ground and are surrounded by evidences of former fidelity, bravery and victory. Presbyterian centuries are looking down upon us and watching our actions to see whether we are worthy such a line of *Rocka\vay. Christian Hook— now Oceanville— Freeport, Roslyn, Oyster Bay, Baldwins and Foster's Meadow were formerly in this parish. --32— ecclesiastical succession. To each of us the words of Heb. 12 : 1 are applicable. They are as follows: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us * * *" Emerson says : "The world exists for the education of each man.'' This may be said of the history of this church. We are not to know the past merely to satisfy curiosity ; but to gather inspiration and hope from it for the pressing duties and demands of the present age. We know what it has cost to establish and perpetuate this church. We realize that our forefathers here had a victory of faith and patience. Regardless of the externals they kept up their trust and confidence in the promises of God. Our aim, then, should be to continue the fight for victory amid the distractions of a materialistic age. Faith, prayer and consecration are the graces which unite the individual members of Zion and enable them to become powerful as agents of righteousness. If we stop to congratulate ourselves over the great history which is in possession of our church, we will not be true to the demands of our times and the requirements of our Master. Our cry must be " Onward, Upward, Godward !" The allurements of this luxurious age must not take us away from the simple and sublime Gospel truths. We must believe and act upon the truth of this verse in Isaiah : "The grass withereth. the flower fadeth : But the word of our God shall stand forever."— 40: 8. [Note.— Since writing this address, the pasti >r has (.-nine into possession of the following lines, translated from the Latin on the tomb of Richard Denton, in Essex. England: " Here lies the dust of Richard Denton O'er his low peaceful grave bends The perennial cypress, tit emblem Of his unfading fame- On earth His bright example, religious light. Sin me forth o'er multitudes. In heaven His pure rob'd spirit shines Like an effulgent star."] At the close of the historical address the choir rendered an anthem ; and then the pastor referred to the fact that about fifty communications had been received from individuals, Presbyteries and committees in response to the invitations which had been sent throughout the land. It was impossible for all these to be read, as it is impossible to print all at this time; but a few were read to show the spirit in which the WlW. F. CONKLIN. PERCY 15. BKOMFIELD. THE SESSION. J. E. Davidson. F. M. Kker, (Moderator.) Luke Fleet. Dr. C. H. Ludlum. 'P. F. GlI.liKRT. —33— invitations had been received and the congratulations of Pres- byteries from one end of our nation to the other. With the letters of former pastors, who were unable to be present, we print a few of the letters, which have been already mentioned. These letters are as follows : To the Pastor and People of the First Presbyterian Church of Hempstead, L. I. Greeting: The Presbyterian Ministerial Association of Philadelphia extends to you its most hearty congratulations, in view of the fact that you have reached the two hundred and fiftieth mile-stone in y< >ur historic career. In celebrating this interesting and important event, be assured. dear Brethren, that we unite with you most gladly. As you look hack upon the two and a half centuries which have passed since your fathers laid the corner stone of the " First Presby- terian Church in America," and note the marvelous development of our beloved Zion, during this eventful period of human history, it can- not fail to afford you great satisfaction, and at the same time awaken in your breasts profound gratitude to Almighty God that y< m are the lineal descendants of those nohle pioneers of the faith, who sowed the seed of Presbyterianism in American soil, which has at length heen scattered from sea to sea, and produced a harvest to the glory of God, majestic in its proportions, and unsurpassed in its quality. Among the tens of thousands of your children who to-day rise up to bless you, we gladly take our stand; and we gratefully join with all your legitimate descendants in according you all the honor that prop- erly attaches to you in view of your venerable age and noble record. " May grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, be with you all. Amen.*' Adopted by the Presbyterian Ministerial Association of Philadel- phia, Oct. 15th, 1894. Rev. Arthur W. Spooner. Rev. R. H. Fulton. D.D.. Rev. J. Addison Henry. D.D.. Committee. Union Theological Seminary. New York, October 18th. 1894. The Rev. Frank M. Kerr. Hempstead. L. I.. X. Y. My Dear Friend: It would he a great pleasure to me if I could personally participate in the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the church of which voir are pastor. I shall think of you to-morrow and the succeeding days, for it is very rare in this young country to find a church so old and venerable. I trust that this long history may be a steady culmination in usefulness and prosperity, and I believe, with all my heart, that you will carry on the work there in such a manner as such a history demands. With sincere regard, Cordially yours, Thos. S. Hastings. -& c —34— Princeton University. New Jersey. October 12. is<)4. The Rev. Frank Melville Kerr, Pastor of "Christ's First Church," Hempstead. Reverend and Dear Brother : Since my return to Princeton I have been hoping that I might be able to accept your very kind and thoughtful invitation to attend the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Hempstead. But I regret to find that I can only offer in response my written salutations and good wishes. It is more than forty years since I received ordination from the Pres- bytery of Long Island as Pastor of this ancient Church. I had come fresh from the Theological Seminary with a few scholastic sermons. which I soon found to be unsuitable. My discriminating hearers must have thought them not very practical. I have never ceased to feel grateful to the people of Hempstead for the considerate kindness with which they endured my inexperience and loyally aided me in all the pastoral work. There was a strong attachment between us : they had called me to be their pastor unanimously, even a second time ; and whatever deficiencies appeared in my services, I always felt sure of their sympathy. Sermons which pleased them, written especially for them. I have since preached acceptably in large city congregations and before audiences of scholars at Princeton. I have now before me while I write, the original call of " Christ's First Church, of Hempstead." dated April 11. 1*49. and signed by David Hendrickson, Eldred Piatt, and Charles M. Pine, Elders. It promised a salary of " five hundred dollars and the use of the parsonage." a gen- erous maintenance in those days. As I could not occupy the parson- age. I applied the rental in carriage hire, for I could drive six miles in almost any direction and find families who came to the village church. I made a map of the parish which, if I can find it. I will send for your acceptance. My pastorate of a few months was too brief to yield much visible fruit. I remember that, with the help of the session. I organized Sun- day Schools and special services at Foster's Meadow. Raynor South and Hempstead Harbor : and hoped that my season of sowing and planting might lie followed by an abundant increase. As I look back through the shadowy past to the scene of a youthful ministry, my heart is full of solemn and tender recollections, and I pray God to shed the choicest blessings upon both pastor and people of this venerable church and prolong its usefulness through coming gener- ations. . Believe me, Very faithfully yours. Charles W. Shields. Dubuque. Iowa. Oct. 5th, 1894. My Dear Brother Kerr : The very cordial invitation I have just received to the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Christ's First Presbyterian Church awakens a great many memories which I shall always cherish as the most precious things of this life. The Presbyterian Church in Hempstead was really my first love, and I have never known a church which can occupy the same place in my heart. I was ordained while acting as stated supply, the date of the service —35— being October 11, 1882, and I regard it as a fortunate coincidence that the twelfth anniversary of that, to me. interesting event, and the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Church should occur within three days of each other. Great changes have taken place in the Church even in the short time which has elapsed since first I knew it. The old fashioned high pulpit with its formidable battlemented front has passed away. The boxes into which the galleries were divided have been modernized by opera chairs. The interior decoration, probably designed to represent such a Grecian heathen temple as never was, has given place to a better art. and the corrugated roof is something one can sit under with a composure it is impossible to feel when one fears that a portion of the ceiling may drop and possibly open a too sudden exit into eternity. And the organ. &c, &c. All these things have kept pace with the im- provement of Hempstead itself, and convince me that it was a blessing to the Church that I left and made room for the men of genius, who. have so successfully set the house in order. But there have been other changes which have left you not as you were. Elder Kellum and Mr. Hendrickson of Queens. Mrs. Luke Fleet, than whom the Church never had a more indefatigable worker. Mrs. Gildersleeve. a sweet saint sitting in the glowing sunset of a long and holy life, so near the gates ajar that we almost saw the glory of heaven in her face. And Dr. Davidson, in his great age. white as an almond tree, and firm as oak in his loyalty to the Church and to the truth of God. And John Phraner, modest, calm and wise. And Richard Lo- sea, one of the very purest of men, and his helpmate Hannah. How you must all miss such as these ! But a Church that has survived two hundred and fifty such years as have passed over the towers of the oldest Presbyterian Church in this country, need never fear. There is not a doctrine of our most holy faith, not a principle of our beloved government, not an opinion that has at length taken form and become a part of the substance of this great nation, but it has first in some measure been considered from this old pulpit. Around about you sleep the warriors of Christ that have seen the false pretence of the enemies of the L ord Jesus during the past two hundred and fifty years, humbled before the all conquering cross : and in these same graves sleep the veterans and the heroes of the greatest wars ever waged for the rights of man. Those who marched under Washington, and those who marched under Grant, side by side. And the old Church baptized them in infancy, consecrated them in youth and buried them after they had shown the world by their self sacrifice that they had not been disobedient to the visions received within the walls of old Zion. Glorious church, because so honored and honored because so useful and fruitful. May she whose spire was lifted as one of the first Beacons and Pilgrims in this new land, remain until the last Pilgrim has found his way to a country where there is no need of any temple, and then may she be presented unto God. without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. •• The Lord bless thee and keep thee, the Lord be gracious unto thee, the Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon thee and give thee peace." Yours sincerely. Frederick E. Hopkins. —36— Auburn, N. Y., Oct. 10, 1894. To the Rev. F. M. Ken-. Dear Bro. : Permit me to acknowledge the invitations so kindly addressed to the Presbytery of Cayuga, and to myself to attend the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Presl yterian Church in America. The Presbytery of Cayuga will not be in session again till Nov. 20th, so I cannot formally present the invitation to that body until that date: but I am sure I may assume, as slated clerk, to send th i Presby- tery's wannest greetings, as I do my own personal ones, to the Hemp- stead Church and to you, its pastor. It was my pleasant exp< ri< nee to spend a Sunday in Hempstead and to preach there some years ago: so although they may none of them remember me I do not feel wholly the stranger: and surely they will not count as such the one who was for a time the pastor of their pastor, and to whose influence they are in a measure at least ind< 1 ted for his share in persuading you to enter the ministry. Two hundred and fifty years, a quarter of a millennium, from the Rev. Richard Denton to the Rev. Frank M. Kerr — what a lapse of years ! What a glimpse into the past. It reminds me of my brother-in-law, the late Rev. Charles T. Der- ing, showing to a friend visiting him on Long Island a tombstone with its date and inscription, and saying: "That man. you see. died the year George Washington was born."" " What." replied the friend. •• Died the year Washington was born ? Why, I should think he must have known Columbus!" The traditions of Hempstead do not go back to the coming of ( Jolumbus, but G-od grant the life and prosperity of the Church may go forward unbroken to that other coming for which we look and pray, the second advent of our Lord, whose is and shall be not only the mil- lennial. 1 ut the eternal glory. With prayers for His blessing on your Church and yourself. Fraternally yours. Edw'd. P. Sprague. The Rev. S. A. Muchmore, I). D.. of Philadelphia. Pa., Moderator of the General Assembly, was requested to speak a few words and responded in the following manner: I shall speak briefly at this time, for my principal address will be given this evening. I am sorry that I missed the train by three min- utes in Long Island City, for the delay in waiting for another train caused me to miss the historical address which has just been given by the pastor of this venerable Church. I should have enjoyed hearing the recital of the former experiences of this organization from the lips of your young pastor, for there are so many things of interest and import- ance connected with so much history that the vigor and enthusiasm of youth would he called niton to do justice to the occasion. But I did the best thing I could under the circumstances. Having —37— a copy of the address in my pocket, I spent the time in reading it over two or three times, so I think I have the facts in mind about as well as those of you who have just listened to its delivery. I am glad tc he present at this time and congratulate you upon ar- ranging a proper celebration to do honor to the Church which is the mother of us all. I am glad to look into the faces of those who have descended from the early founders and hope that you all will possess the spirit of devotion to spiritual and religious things which charac- terized those who wrought for the glory and honor of God. Addresses by the Rev. S. T. Carter and Former Pastors. The Rev. Samuel T. Carter, of Hunting-ton, representative of Nassau Presbytery, was introduced and spoke in his usual attractive manner. We quote the principal features of his ad- dress as recorded by the reporter of The Hempstead Inquirer. They are as follows : A brief address was made by the Rev. Samuel T. Carter, of Hunt- ington, representing the Presbytery of Nassau. He referred to the propriety of his appointment to represent the Presbytery, as he was pastor of the Church in the Presbytery next oldest to that of Hemp- stead and Jamaica. The speaker read from the old records showing that in old times it was the custom to pay the minister in pork, mutton, butter, chickens, &c. Now, said the speaker, it is the custom for the pastor to get his mutton quarterly. The Church of God works by in- stitutions, and the institutions live when man dies. Sunday is one of these institutions. The Bible is another. The Church is the fountain head of good laws, and the Bible is on the side of good laws. Through the Church, colleges, cities, towns and States have been founded. He concluded by extending to the Church the congratulations of the Pres- bytery. The Rev. Charles E. Dunn, of the Third Presbyterian Church, of Albany, who was pastor of the Church from 1884 to 1888, being- introduced, spoke in part as follows : Two hundred and fifty years of history is the unique distinction of the Hempstead Presbyterian Church. Unlike some of the gentler sex she is not ashamed of her age. She publishes it broadcast over the land. Why should she be ashamed of it? She is younger at two hundred and fifty than she was at one hundred and fifty. The blood of two and a half centuries coursing through the arteries of this old —38— veteran is giving a ruddier glow to Presbyterianism in Hempstead than ever before in her history. Men may come and men may go, but the Church goes on forever. When I look at this one element of age I feel that my little pastorate wedged in between 1884 and 1888 might be pushed out altogether and the old girders might creak and the walls crack, but no other signs of displacement would be dis- cernible. Those four years were years of experiment and profit to me. They were years of patience and resignation on the part of the congre- gation. I am not sure that the Church would have lived to celebrate her two hundred and fiftieth anniversary if her patience had been taxed much longer than it was. Be that as it may. I follow the course of this Church with increasing interest, and shall always look back with affection to the fellowships and friendships that were formed in Hempstead. They grow brighter as the years go on. Only Heaven it- self will reveal what sheaves were gathered. The Rev. }. A. Davis, pastor of the Church from 1890 to 1893, was the last speaker at the afternoon service. His ad- dress was as follows : Those who trace analogies see a close one between th? marriage relation and that existing between paste a- and Church. Yet. to press this analogy 1 rings some amusing complications. Not only do ecclesi- astical divorces become common, the causes are slight. The church grows tireel of her spouse, falls in love with ane)ther. n< gli < ts her own. treats him with indifference, makes life uncomfortable, and forces him to turn away. She, growing vigorous with age, learns to despise as marks of antiquity appear on him, and treats him as farmers, with more economy than mercy, treat faithful horses who have outlived their usefulness. Indeed, the resemblance is more akin to that just suggested; for as soon as the pastor fails "to draw'' the church and everything she has for transportation, he is summarily unharnessed and turned out, without further consideration. Nor is blame alone on the sid" of the church. Not waiting for his spouse to cast him off. the pastor seeks another who will be more likely to treat him well, and at once, discovering such an one, his affections may be transferred: and he goes with them. Thus the couple break the sacred vows made be- fore God and His Church, as if they were merely ties of convenience. Yet, when did a pastor ever turn from a church because it was old? Are not the venerable churches more sought after than the youthful? And who ever heard of an ecclesiastical maiden denying her age or 1 oasting of her youth when in the matrimonial market? —39— This so-called marriage relation presents a rather remarkable com- bination here to-day. The young pastor who a few months ago clasped the hand of his bride, whose age is nearly ten times his own, stands among the ex-husbands, the honored of all. We meet him and her with congratulations, and no hand searches for a weapon to revenge ourselves because he won her affections. We feel as happy as he and as satisfied; nor have we one thought of envy. If ours to look forward, we might see him later an ex-husband by our sides, and another occu- pying the place he so worthily fills. But prophecy is not moving that way to-day. Instead, I wish to pastor and church the greatest happi- ness, longest life together, and most prosperity of the history of this clmrch. Though celebrating her quarter millennium, she presents no marks of age, surely none of decreptitude. Nor has paint or powder covered up wrinkles and tokens of antiquity. She begins her second quarter millennium with far brighter prospects than her first. L ike the ven- erable but vigorous centenarian, ordering a new pair of shoes after he had passed his first century of life, she can say, as he, when the hope was expressed that he would live to complete his second century, "I expect to. I begin this, larger, wiser, stronger than I did the other." The old church has had enough experience to be able to prove an ex- ample for her more than ten thousand children, (counting in all Pres- byterian Churches in America), and to become a leader among them in faith and good works. Grood examples are needed in our day, no less in church than individual life. There is no more need of mar- tyrs for the truth in the Presbyterian Church; we have a full supply of truth, what we need now is practice. When churches and men can develop enough modern sense to realize that former centuries were for martyrs, this for missions, they will find out what they live for. If this old church starts out with the new era for making herself felt as a Christian body, active, aggressive, persistent, sympathetic, to bring man and Jesus together, she will prove herself worthy the honored place she occupies — Mother op the Presbyterian Church in America. To make its future what the record of the mother church should be, it needs, must have, two wants supplied. It must have a spirit of sacrifice and the spirit of sanctification. Unless it have both, its future will be but a name and a shadow. It is not the thought that this church needs more than others these two qualifications. All need, if some more than others, the spirit that prompted the Master in His work. He counted not Himself, nor spared Himself ; but freely gave all for man. The more this church will imitate Christ in that respect, the more will be its promise, pro- —40— gress. power, prosperity. Well may the Master's utterance be em- phasized, "Without Me ye can do nothing." His is the spirit that conquers : and its conquests grow in greatness and multitude as men learn more of human needs and earthly weakness. This church needs the Holy Spirit. Until He come in mighty pow- er there will be slow growth and quiet satisfied lethargy, and yet will remain in multitudes who are living Godless, and unless more be done will die Christless. Not until that Spirit arouse church members to see their duty and to do faithfully their work, as never done by ihem before, will this venerable body rise to its true position of honor, duty and responsibility. There needs a sanctifying of everything connected with the church until the very tips of fingers and toes are influenced by divine grace and love. Then a prayer meeting will be more delight- ful to every one than a card party, and a place of devotion more at- tractive than a dance. To get this Spirit — both of sacrifice and service — there needs more submission, more supplication. Until you are ready to lay all on the altar of the Master, you will get neither. Is it not worth while to get both V What will be the value of selfishness a few tens of years hence? What of sacrifice and service ? After singing, " Lord of hosts! how lovely is The place where thou dost dwell I" the benediction was pronounced by Dr. Muchmore, and the congregation dispersed to partake of the bountiful collation in the chapel, which the ladies had made remarkably inviting. At the evening service the pastor presided and announced as the first hymn, "All hail the power of Jesus' name," which was heartily sung by the large audience which crowded the church to the doors. The Scripture Lesson was read by the Rev. J. W. Maynard, of the M. E. Church, and prayer was offered by the Rev. C. E. Dunn. The choir rendered several anthems in a very successful manner. The pastor then introduced the Rev. J. D. Wells, D. D., of Brooklyn, who delivered the following excellent address up- on "The Venerable Church in Relation to the Present and Future": —41— Address by the Rev. J. D. Wells, D. D. I have known this venerable church about one-sixth of its entire life. But this is a small fraction of a large whole number. How little forty-four years signify in relation to two hundred and fifty, and to successive generations of Christian men and women, who lived and toiled and suffered and died in this Church organization ! Not by calling on the living, whatever their age, can the beginnings and the earliest years of this enterprise be laid open to us. Your reliance must be upon MS. records and printed books; and some of these are not easy to find. We all owe much to the patient research of your young pastor, and con- gratulate you and him on the result. The truth of history is worth all it costs, of money and labor. It is fitting that churches as well as individuals should remember all the way by which God has led them, whether the measure thereof be decades or centuries. There are no patriarchs of the earliest type to review the centuries for us. Indeed, not many persons who were active in the Church when I first knew it remain to share in these commemo- rative services. Nor would it be very helpful for me to indulge largely in reminiscence were I inclined to do it. To only two contrasted matters will I venture to refer. There was once a little disturbance of the peace and serenity of the congregation. If asked to do so I could not name the parties then at variance or the cause of their difference. The venerable Dr. Jonathan Greenleaf, and myself, a comparatively young man, were sent by Presbytery, at the request _of the people, if possible to calm the agita- tion and make peace. We spent a night at the same house and in rooms adjacent to each other. There was a thin partition between us and in the deep night I heard Dr. Greenleaf pleading with God that we might have wisdom and grace for our difficult and important work, and that hearts here somewhat estranged might be made one in Christ Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit of peace. The other and contrasted matter I find referred to in a record made at the time and bearing date Oct. 6 to the 8th, 1856, in the following words: " At Hempstead attending the meeting of the Presbytery of Nassau. It was a delightful meeting, the most so of any I have ever attended. I think I see the dawn of a bright day in regard to the effect of meetings of Presbytery on Ministers, Ruling Elders, and the Churches. At my request our people prayed on Tuesday' night for Presbytery, and for the Church where we were to meet. A beginning was made in our Free —42— Convention to speak of the state of our own souls, and this promises to he useful — " I am sorry to add that in the rush of these past years our city Pres- byteries give little time to anything but routine business. Brit I may not indulge further in reminiscence. The present and the future have strong drains upon our thought. The great cities west of you are sending hither their families by the hundred. They are finding homes in your broad territory and in- viting streets. With other Christian Churches you are to welcome them and give them congenial church homes, if they are confessors of Christ. If they are not, yon are to win them, if possible, by God's blessing on the gospel of his Son, and to your own manifested love for their souls. May you have grace to be in full accord with all other friends of Christ here in this important and blessed work. There is such a thing as Christian Churches provoking one another to love and good works; and they are to be commended and congratulated who give most provocation of this Scriptural kind, and least occasion for any one to say that they are not doing their part of the common work, or that they are trenching upon the ground that fairly belongs to others. Holding thought still to the present, consider what you are as a Christian Church, and what our Lord has a right to expect of you. When St. Paul wrote to a Church which he had founded after a few weeks of service, and from which he was driven to Berea further to the west, and a little later to Athens and Corinth at the south, he began thus: " Unto the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ." By which I understand that the organic life of that particular Church was inseparable from God the Father and the L ord Jesus Christ. In other words, there were individual Christians banded together in Church relations, at Thessalonica. whose lives were hid with Christ in God, and therefore the Church itself had its life so hid. I understand precisely the same thing in regard to this Church of Hempstead. And if I had occasion to write a Christian letter to this Church. I should have no hesitation to begin it with these suggestive and very impressive words: " Unto Christ's First Church at Hempstead. L . I., in God, the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ, grace unto yon and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Indeed, if comparisons were allowable. I should not think myself at fault in saying that this Church, having had an uninterrupted life of two hundred and fifty years, and possession of the finished Bible, is much more likely to have larger and strong relation to the great truths of -43— revelation, and to the one God of the Bible, the Father and Son and the Holy Ghost, than the Church of the Thessalonians gathered not long before out of a pagan city, and not in possession of a single printed copy of the Old Testament, or the manuscript copy of any book of the New Testament except the single letter of St. Paul. For it is the common judgment of the most eminent, conservative and Godly students and interpreters of Scripture that the first Epistle to the Thessalonians was the earliest of all the Pauline Epistles and even of the books of the New Testament. But comparisons aside. I beg you to take firm hold of the truth that if you are a true Christian Church, as I believe you are, it is .because there are here members of the body and flesh and bones of Jesus Christ, children of God and temples of the Holy Ghost. Let these high and sacred relations make you ever true to Him who has kept you as a Church for so many years. You are drawn to Jesus Christ individually, and to each other in these Church relations, not merely that you may be saved. You are to incarnate the gospel, hold it forth in your lives from day to day for the salvation of others and the glory of God. Indi- vidually you are not burdened with the weight of two and a half cen- turies. Yon are rather helped than hindered by these many years. Generations go and others come. The coming ones inherit much from those that go. A Church located as this Church is, is ever young. I venture the statement that the averages of ages is quite as low as it was at the organization. October. 1644, and the members are more numer- ous. Your surroundings are all changed. You have opportunities and facilities for Christian works not dreamt of at first. You draw inspira- tions from the entire history of our nation, and of the Church in our land and world. With reference to openings for work you are in a larger land and world than were the fathers. But with relation to fa- cilities for reaching and blessing their remotest parts, the land and the world are very small. Keep this in mind. Give much thought to it. Adapt 3 T ourselves to your surroundings near and far away. Influences to bless the whole race go out from centres like this, when they go by way of the throne of grace. The Living Stream of Prayer directs and applies them as seems good in His sight. A Church that lives for itself alone is dying and will soon be dead. You cannot have lived for your- selves hitherto, or this anniversary would be impossible. And you will not imperil your Church life in the future. The motives for Godly living and Church activity that find their power in the Person and Cross of Christ are enough to constrain lis. May you feel them as never be- fore. I have referred to your wide relations to the entire Church of Christ and to the whole world as the field of Christian service. —44— Suffer a word in relation to your own part of the Christian Church. Your history is her history. You have known suffering in her behalf and live to praise the Lord. Be encouraged to share in her worship and work. Be faithful as stewards of the Lord's treasure. Christ's First Church. Hempstead, is a Presbyterian Church, an organic part of the Presl yterian Church in the United States of America. If I may so speak, the fibres of your church life run through the Presl ytery of Nas- sau to the Synod of New York, the successive assemblies of the Church in all the land, and reach the whole Presl yt rian Church. And along these living fibres run to and fro influences more subtle and powerful and beneficent than any on telegraphic wires. Show as fully as you can in the entire work of our Church at home and abroad if you would have the largest possible local benediction, and the sweet consciousness that you are doing the will of Christ, who is head over all things to the Church in the whole world. As to tin- future, we know nothing of what awaits us individually here on earth — whether prosperity or adversity, health or sickness, many years or few years. But with the hope of salvation laid up for us in heaven, we have no need to take thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. But the future of separate churches is largely under God in the keeping of their living members. Else wise why such messages as Jesus Christ sent down from heaven to the angels of the seven churches of Asia (a single province of what we know as Asia Minor). We need not trouble ourselves about the question who the angels of these churches were, whether the pastors or not. The letters were for the churches. On their individual members largely depended the continued existence and prosperity of the churches named. And these letters are for the churches of L ong Island and the world now. Who is not thrilled by the promises to him that overcometh with which they close ? Any one of the seven is a mighty inspiration to fidelity in service. Take the last one " to the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans"; the Church that, as the Saviour knew it, was neither hot nor cold, and to which He gave such earnest direction: " I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire." It closes with these words so wonderful that we can only guess at their meaning until we are forever with the Lord: "To him (the individual) that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev. 3:21. My brethren, you have inherited a sacred trust. It is very prec- ious, too. Take it to your hearts. It is a treasure committed to your use; for increase, for transmission, and for accounting. And what —45— shall the accounting be ? Talents multiplied or talents hid ? Come, ye blessed ? or depart, ye cursed ? This is an individual matter. Church organizations will have an- swered their purposes when our Lord comes the second time without sin unto salvation. There will be no arraigning of separate Churches, or Sessions, or Presbyteries, or Synods, or General Assemblies, or any other church organizations. Every one of us shall give account of him- self to God. Individual Christians, old and young, give character to churches and largely determine their future. Personal influence is wonderful. It fills the thoughtful with awe. It takes effect on men and — I say it reverently — it reaches the throne of God. Many years ago a revival of great power suddenly began in the Presbyterian Church of Southampton, on this Island. It surprised the pastor and elders. The members of the church generally could not ac- count for it. There had been a long time of comparative coldness and the dew of divine grace was withheld. While the revival continued all were too deeply interested to make inquiry about its origin. But when the ingathering was completed the inquiry began. In the congregation there was a venerable woman destitute of a home, but greatly respected and loved. Infirm in health, she could enter the house of God only as she was carried thither. She was an object of compassion, and, as her presence in any house was regarded as a benediction, she was made the guest of several families in suc- cession. Amid the general surprise at the sudden and powerful revival she was thoughtful and calm and simply remarked: "I am not sur- prised at the revival. I have long been praying that the Lord would suddenly come to his temple." After this it came to be generally be- lieved that this poor old saint had obtained the promise of God by her faith. Others in all ages have had similar power. The eleventh chap- ter of Hebrews is to the honor and glory of faith in men and women, named and unnamed, who lived and suffered and died in darker ages than ours. Perhaps similar power of faith as the gift of God's is wait- ing for kindred sufferings. I prefer to believe that it waits only for oc- casions. And they are here and now. " Here" in the constant call for the work of faith and the labor of love, that souls may be saved and God glorified. '• Note" in the rail that comes from the ends of the earth for the prayer of faith that the word of God may have free course and run and be glorified. At a farewell missionary meeting of great interest, held at our Mission House, September 28th, to send forth men and women to Syria. India and China with prayer and words of cheer, we had brief ad- dresses from three of the missionaries. Dr. Ford, of Syria, and Dr. —46— Thackwell, of India — both men returning to their fields after long ser- vice and greatly needed rest — made most encouraging statements as to the people whom they represented. But what think you was the burden of their hearts? Earnestly and pathetically they plead that God's people would pray for those among whom they were about to resume their work. With all the em- phasis of tender and all but tearful statement they declared that every- thing was ready for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Young men from the government schools of India, schools in which the Bible is not used, and many from the mission schools, in which it is largely used, are forming bands to search the Scriptures. They come by their representatives to the missionaries to ask the meaning of particular passages of the Word. They are tired of Hindooism and its Pantheism. They wish to know whether there is a Personal Clod with whom they have to do. What relation they bear to him? What to the eternity beyond these swift years of time? And must they give account of themselves to the Personal God if He exists ? Oh ! fathers and mothers, young men and maidens of this oldest Presbyterian Church in the country, is there no latent power of prayer among you by which, as the months and years of the future pass, you can help forward the work of salvation here and in all lands, and so hasten the coming of our L ord Jesus Christ ? You wish to meet him in peace and triumph. You belong to the great sacramental host of believers in all the world to whom the Master's commission is given to make disciples of all the nations. I beseech you that this remarkable anniversary may not be made merely or chiefly a time of good cheer and mutual congratulations, but rather of self-consecration to the loving Saviour, who died for you and lives to save you from your sins; consecration to the church which he purchased with his own blood; and consecration to the great cause for which he lives and reigns, and for helping which you are made kings and priests unto God. At the close of this address the audience had the pleasure of listening to a solo by Mr. Albert A. Day, which was rendered in an artistic manner. The pastor then introduced the Rev. S. A. Muchmore, D. D., of Philadelphia, Moderator of the General Assembly, who spoke with his usual wit, pathos and eloquence, as follows : J. Seymour Snedeker. Jos. D. Armstrong, (Fres't.) S. Alonzo Smith. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. T. W. Albertson. R. W. Rhodes. Ebenezer Kellum. J. P. H. de Windt. S. S. Smith, Jk. —47— Address of the Rev. 5. A. Muchmore, D. D. As I looked around this Church and village during the interval for the collation, I noticed something for which yon should be thankful— that is the graveyard which adjoins your Church. Nothing is better for the prosperity of a Church than a graveyard, and measured in that way you should have a great deal of success in this Church. It is at the grave that the history of a man begins. When he is alive there are many things to interfere with a proper estimate of his life: but. as soon as death hushes the harsh criticisms which the best act and highest motive are sure to receive in this world, then are the people willing to speak of the goodness of the man and the influential character he possessed. At this time you are calling to mind the days of old and recounting the deeds of honor, valor and devotion, which were accomplished by those who once walked this earth and encountered its joys and sorrows, but who are now enjoying the rewards of glory while their bodies in yonder graveyard await the dawn of resurrection day. When you deal with such mysterious principles as life, death and immortality, you are able to overlook the mistakes of the past generations and study only their virtues and learn from them the way in which they overcame difficul- ties and achieved success. In this spirit the study of the past becomes beneficial; and a Church with such a graveyard around it cannot afford to live 4> at a poor dying rate." You do your duty in showing respect for the dead; and you should catch the spirit of their zeal and fulfill your mission before the time of death comes to you. Your activities will be of an earnest character and you will realize that the record by which God and man will judge you must be made while life lasts. This Church is one in which heredity plays an important part, for it has been established on the covenant relation expressed by the Lord in dealing with the patriarchs of the Old Testament time. The covenant made with Abraham was not only for himself but also for his children; and it is in this sense that God has established his kingdom in this world. This Church is yours because of the fact that it belonged to your fathers; and it is for your children because it is at present in your possession. It is the great privilege of the parents to bring up their children in the fear of the L ord and with the understanding that they are a part of this visible kingdom of God so that they will be ready at the proper time to publicly ratify the covenant made with their parents for their benefit, and show a determination to stand for the cause of right and truth in this world of sin and temptation. It is on account of this relationship between the parents and children in this Church that it will continue in future time. It has the principle of perpetuity in its own —48— possession, and a proper regard for the value of it will develop right ac- tion on the part of the generations which are to follow yon in this re- ligions organization. This, as a representative of the Presbyterian Church, is a Church which is founded upon doctrines formulated out of God's Word. Its teaching is in the direction of harmony and unity. In view of recent disturbances in the Church, it might seem that harmony is not one of our principal features; bnt. in this respect, we are somewhat like the Irishman who said that when he was married the minister informed him that he and his wife were one, but to hear them talk sometimes one would think th sre were about half a dozen of them. This loud talk on the part of the Irishman and his wife did not set aside the fact of the unity of the marriage relation; nor does debate and contest overthrow the unity of th i Presbyterian Church. It is a Church which establishes the fundamentals of the Gospel and endeavors to bring comfort, joy and peace to the sorrowing hearts of the human race. It was from the grave of Christ that the world received the great lesson of the resurrection of the dead. There is to be life after death, and this thought is applicable to us at this time, for the principle which the dead fought for in their time is to be carried out by this generation. That principle is the "pure religion and nndefiled in the sight of God the Father," which enables every Church to arouse the people of the present day to the importance of the spiritual life. What the Church of God needs is a revival of spiritual life. It does not want too much graveyard, for then yon will have nothing but " hark from the tombs." Sometimes a Church may live too much upon the past. This is a danger which must be avoided, for there is not certainty of progress as a result of it. The students at Princeton used to say that they had bread and water for breakfast, water and bread for dinner and past recollections for supper. That kind of fare was not conducive to physi- cal development. If you try to live on past recollections here you will not fulfill the meaning of this anniversary nor show yourselves worthy the historical position which you occupy. The past is secure. You can- not change it. Your privilege now is to face the future. Id view of the fact that we arc unable to givea full account of Dr. Muchmore's address, we quote from his account of the celebration, as it appeared in The Presbyterian, of Philadelphia. of which he is the editor. Me writes as follows : Going Back. [EDITORIAL ( '< IRRESPONDENCE.] Only the old will contend about the superiority which years give: -49- only the Chinese adore the aged. Even history has been relegated to a mouldy grave, and the present glorified in its stead. Only in the anni- versary years of the last quarter of a century has the past arrested the fevered brains of men, and led them to survey the way over which the Church and nation have come in reaching the glorious present. This recurrence to the past has just been made manifest on Long Island, at the ancient but beautiful town of Hempstead, which rejoices in a live- ly Church, two hundred and fifty years old. Youth has here so con- cealed age that one would suppose that this Church had not been born more than twenty-five years ago. The old mother is not tottering, neither are her garments tattered with age. Her children have clothed her as children do their beloved parents, until through the genius of youth, old age is made never to appear. A contest goes on between three or four Churches on this island and this vicinity, as to which is oldest. Hempstead claims the sharply-contested honor, and as it de- serves all kinds of honor, and nobody has yet proved that its claim is not well fortified, we join in the congratulations, and hail her as the oldest and least decrepit of them all. Long Island lies flat, but is changeful in its sunshine, its vistas of grain and fruit, its culture and products of life in every form. Nature was in a broad smile by day. and by night shimmered in the rays of a glorious moon. The remnants of the old congregation were there, the survival of the fittest, which is the law in church life as well as of physical development. The memorial services were begun by the his- toric address of the gifted and earnest young pastor, the Rev. Frank Melville Kerr, an attractive and popular minister, a living bud on the ancient stock — there not by birth, but by adoption. He led lis back to where history had the delightsomeness of a very pleasant song, and made seem present to us the heroes whose names and fame have come down from other generations. Puritanism must not be limited to very few, as has been wont. They were not only dissenting Independents from England, but Pres- byterians from Scotland, Holland, Ireland and England as well, who made history for themselves on both sides of the sea. One of this host must " sample the lot" — Richard Denton: bora in Yorkshire. England, in 1586, and educated at Cambridge. He held a pastorate of several years in Coley Chapel, Halifax, Yorkshire, England. The outcome of royaltj' and hypocrisy allied in England was a Book of Sports, which was a collection of abominations in the name of the L< >rd. forced upon the Puritans as an instrument of torture to their consciences. It required them to desecrate the Sabbath by practices not worthy of the race-track, and nothing was left but either to yield in dishonor or to rebel at the risk of martyrdom. Of these men, fully a thousand reached this country. Among the number was this old worthy, Richard Denton, who labored first at Wa- tertown, Mass., but who, on account of persecution, in 1635 moved to Connecticut and founded and named the famous old town of Weath- ersfield, the place where not only the best men and women of their times lived, but where the town itself was made odorous with the best onions of this era of the nation's life. He had a desire to depart from them, however, for what reason is not stated, unless it was his longing to found a Presbyterian Church, which he did, and which now claims to be the first Presbyterian Church in America. To this all loval de- —50— scendants were invited, to celebrate the two centuries and a half of their existence as a church, and the prospect of two hundred and fifty years more. They met last week in Christ's Presbyterian Church, of Hempstead. There was present at the celebration a large intelligent congrega- tion. Some of the line of the Denton's were present, one is an officer in tin' church. This church has the New England look with much that identifies it with Presbyterianism. It has a grand history which ought to be maintained. We regret that only a few hours' presence shut us off from many of the personalities of the history of special interest. Many of the friends of the church in the Presbytery were there and oth- ers came officially to represent other Presbyteries. The first congratu- lations heard were from Dr. Carter, of Huntington, with historic rem- iniscences of other churches of the Island, interesting as a novel, and made more so by a most admirable presentation thereof. Rev. Charles Dunn, of Albany, a former pastor, gave a most interesting address full of incident and humor. Following him came the Rev. J. A. Davis, of Nyack, N. Y., who was pastor from 1890 to L893. The evening session was one of great interest. The house was filled, floor and gallery, by a congregation of the members of this church and their neighbors. The music was good and appropriate. The church is worthy of the historic place and people. The audience-room will hold seven or eight hundred people. In all its appointments it is g band conforms to modern taste. It is bound to all the past by a historic graveyard where lies the dust of notable men and women who have dis- appeared in periods varying from centuries down to weeks. Godly men and women many of them were, whose best history is that they pleased God. The night session was opened by the introduction by the young pastor, of a young Methodist minister, showing that the Presbyterian Church has always been in accord with its neighbors and co-workers. The first speaker was Dr. Wells, of Brooklyn, one of the niosf faithful pastors the church has ever possessed: a man to be held in the highesi esteem, because the ministry of Christ was always big enough for his expanding ability. He has held men by preaching Christ and his Gos- pel. His address was historic, but more inspiring in the manifestation of Divine power and its living results. He has marly a fifty y; ars' min- istry behind him. but has lost none of his spiritual and mental vigor, and is still marching on. The last speaker was Dr. Hall, always interesting, because always good. He turns everything, by a skillful metamorphosis, into food for spiritual life. He has on such occasions sufficient of humor to attract, from which he darts into spiritual life and its ethics, but we need not take time to talk of Dr. Hall — he is known. Space and time will not permit us to say more than that this was one of the most agreeable meet- ings of a life-time. The pastor, who is a man of ability in his minis- terial work, has received his ministerial qualifications not only by study and by the power of God resting upon him, but by heredity. He has descended through eight generations of Presbyterian stock, and an al- most continuous ministerial line. He is all this, and a man of affairs besides. He and bis people had made every provision for the comfort and entertainment of their guests. .U'b r the afternoon service then- was served a most bountiful collation. We know that we have missed -51- many who contributed to this grand anniversary. There were present Moderators of other Presbyteries. Sunday School Superintendents and men of distinction in all the walks of life." In introducing the Rev. John Hall, D. I)., LL. D. , of New York, the pastor referred to the fact of having heard Dr. Hall deliver an interesting address before the Jubilee Assembly of the Irish Presbyterian Church in Belfast in 1890, and the com- ment of one of the delegates, who said : "We never hear the like of that in this country."' As the Doctor was born under the British flag and now occupies a high position in the Pres- byterian Church of his adopted country, the audience, at the request of the pastor, gave him the Chautauqua salute. Summary of the Address by Rev. Dr. Hall. The Rev. Dr. Hall, according to his usual method, spoke in a con- versational way to the people, and expressed the pleasure he felt in being with a congregation with a history so venerable. As they had already had this matter fully before them he did not feel bound to dwell upon it. but desired to speak on a topic which this memorial ser- vice suggests, namely: The Church of Clod the Great Reforming Agency in the World. He called attention to the familiar passage in I. John, 3d Chapter, where the first verse defines the position of a believer — a son of God; the second, the future of a believer, perfect in likeness to the Redeemer, and then the third brings out the moral effect on him who lias this hope; he "purifieth himself*' as the Master is pure. This is the divine method of lifting men out of sin and degradation, and this is the method which is employed with such happy results by true evan- gelical churches. He then proceeded to show how ■■societies" of human formation, however well meant, and dealing with sections of vice, for their re- moval, or of virtue, for their cultivation, differ from the divine plan which goes to the centre of human life, touches and changes the human heart, and brings it under the influence < >f grace — grace which ' ' teacheth to deny ungodliness and all worldly lusts, and to live" " soberly, right- eously and Godly" in the world. The effectiveness of this divine force in making men moral the speaker illustrated, not without a cer- tain genial humor, by facts drawn from his own observation and experi- ence, as when chaplain to a female convict prison in Dublin, having the Presbyterians in his charge, and where he could only get fifteen or twenty hearers, where if he had had his proportion of the population —52- he ought to have had seventy or eighty— the only place, said the Doctor, with a smile, where I felt thankfulness over a small congregation. Some indeed, he pointed out. object to the evangelical way of em- phasizing doctrine, or as they sometimes call it " dogma" -not knowing very well the meaning of that word — and tell us that they want ethical teaching. "Duty and not dogma" is what the people need to be taught, they say. He made an appeal to the good sense of the young who had to learn to do sums in arithmetic and so to get into their memory the multiplication table, to learn to write letters, and so to go through the dictionary and to write correct English and so had to learn the grammar. On the same principle the churches have to teach what we are to believe concerning God and what duties God requires of us. that we may do them. Referring to the charge that religion is thus mainly negative, he alluded to the large proportion of the com- mandments beginning with " thou shalt not," but pointed out that the Bible inculcates all positive duties, supplies the motives for doing them, and provides an ideal, an example in " the man Christ Jesus," like to which there is nothing in any humanly -devised religion. In this con- nection he quoted the comment of an Irish Bishop on such a critic, who he supposed, listened to the reading of the Ten Commandments in Church, and then went to sleep, and did not hear the Gospel and Epistles. The speaker brought his address to a close by an earnest appeal to the members of the congregation, and to friends who were there in sympathy with the minister and the stated worshipers, to receive the Divine Redeemer; if they had not done so. and if they had to labor- by consistency of life, by prayer, by sympathy with the pastor to hand down to the corning generations the privileges they had inherited from their fathers; and that they might be able to do this he counseled them to be faithful, loving, grateful imitators of the Redeemer in His life on earth — that Redeemer whom God had set up as King in Zion. The congregation then sang, "Hail to the Brightness of Zion's Glad Morning," and received the benediction from Dr. Hall, which successfully closed the second day of the celebra- tion. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1894 The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor contrib- uted to the success of the celebration by procuring excellent speakers, who have seen the beneficial part of such an organi- zation among the young people of the Church and who know how to impress the minds of the young with the privileges of christian activity. Invitations were sent to neighboring societies, and many were represented in the audience. '['he President of the Society, Mr. J. E. Patterson, presided ami conducted the devotional exercises. After singing "Hide me, my Saviour, hide me," one of the favorite hymns, the President introduced the Rev. Charles Park, pastor of the Pres- byterian Church of Astoria, Long Island, who spoke, in part, as follows : Address by the Rev. Charles Park. To whom much is given much will he required is true of centuries as it is of character. Standing on the crest of a new era, as we do to- day, we face a double duty : Congratulation and consecration ; joyful thanksgiving for what has been : buoyant faith in what shall be. It is easier to believe in a past God than in a Jehovah of the present and future. Deity is trinitarian temporally as well as theologically. Godhood covers all three tenses, but the future is the favorite and must ever be the best. The superlative is a divine degree. Our Heavenly Father is a splendid optimist, and the Laureate is right in singing: " Yet I doubt not through the ages An increasing purpose runs." Therefore, men and women, forward is the word. Make the his- toric past of this church energizing in its effect upon your spiritual life. If the Corsican could draw a lesson of enthusiastic courage from cold pyramids, can you not gain from the lesson of these centuries- centuries not of stones, but of souls — God's message'.-' "Come up higher" — not to heaven, but to heavenly life: not by dying, but by doing. —54— The starry providence of God for more than two hundred years beckons yon to make your christian life whiter and wider, to let the spirit of Christ dwell in yon richly. " to draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto yon." May we not change a stanza from the Quaker poet, adapting it from a patriotic to a parochial use. and pray the Father? "To make this church, through centuries long, In peace secure, in power strong; Around thy gift of mercy draw The safeguards "f thy righteous law; And. cast in some diviner mold, Let the new cycle shame the old!" The Rev. B. B. Tyler, D. D., of the Church of the Disci- ples, New York, delivered an eloquent address upon the Chris- tian Endeavor Pledge. He paid a glowing tribute to the founders of this church, but thought that the present genera- tion of christians is in a better condition for religious work than any of previous days. In this equipment, which is so wonderful and practical, the Christian Endeavor Society has an important place. The pledge, which forms a centre of ac- tivity, is remarkable in the extent of its gospel principles and the simplicity in which it presents practical Christianity. He said that the pledge contains eight sermons, which sum up the meaning of this great movement among the young people. We give the sermons in their order : i. Trusting Christ ; 2. Pleasing Christ ; 3. Daily Prayer ; 4. Daily Bible Reading : 5. Supporting Christ : 6. Active Participation in the Work of the Church ; 7. Living a Christian Life ; 8. En- tire Consecration to Christ. His address was shortened because it was necessary for him to leave for the city in a few minutes ; but it was full of Christian Endeavor loyalty and enthusiasm. The society was fortunate in securing his services. The Rev. David fames Burrell, D. I)., of New York, was next introduced and spoke in part as given by the Inquirer: Representing, he said, the oldest evangelical church in the United States, the Collegiate Church of New York, he brought salutations from the Holland Presbyterian Church in the United States. The Hempstead Church, he said, ought to he proud of its history. He was -55— glad the Christian Endeavor had come in his time and he was a member of it. He loved it and thought it meant great things for the future of the Church. It is yet in its incipiency. It means work for the young. It means more than endeavor — it means trained endeavor. Young men and women are being trained to the work of the Church. Apprentices in the past have been trained in every department of life except the Church. Now that the Church is receiving the benefit of this training it will never be what it has been. It will be stronger and more aggres- sive as the young people begin to make their training felt. A great many people now know that the Hempstead Church is two hundred and fifty years old. It is a grand record, and the people will expect it to live up to its history. The afternoon exercises closed with a consecration service, led by the Rev. W. J. Peck, of Corona. He opened the service with an address on "Christian Endeavor and Consecration," as follows: Address by the Rev. W. J. Peck. It is my joy to bring to-day to this venerable and oldest Presbyterian Church the greetings and congratulations of the Union Evangelical Church of Corona, which has in its fold the representatives of twenty denominations, twelve nationalities and three continents. It is a beautiful thing to have a part in this celebration and be thrilled and moved by the consecrated memories of two hundred and fifty years of service for Jesus. Consecrated Christian Endeavor began among the Congregational- ists, my ancestors, in 1620, about Plymouth Rock, Mass. In 1628. when the first endeavor was a fair maiden of eighteen, the Dutch commenced christian endeavor on Manhattan Island and built their first meeting- house. In 1644 Presbyterianism in America was cradled in this fair village, and this church which we honor to-day was the product of con- secrated endeavor of that denomination. So that early light shone out christian light from Plymouth, Manhattan Island and Long Island, and thus an early triangle of endeavor was completed. And from these three centres light still shines, and the lineal descendants of those peo- ple are with us to-day and the pastors of those original churches have been upon this platform to-day. After two hundred and fifty years we see the value of that early consecration, and what it really meant, and what it still means. The consecration of their gold transmuted it into the coins and currency of Heaven. —56— It cost these early residents of Long Island a good deal to maintain services here: but they did not give their gold for iron. That invest- ment paid. The rest of their money was lost or is forgotten, lmt this, given to Jesus, was transmuted into enduring riches. I hold in my hand a coin. It is a dollar, supposed to represent one hundred cents. Think of the history of that dollar. It came clear and beautiful from the mint : it went into the palm of a laboring man to pay him for ten hours* work. It was still beautiful. He had earned it by the sweat of his brow. It was a good dollar. But it went into the till of a certain grocer. He spent it at the race-track, and there the dollar was disgraced. It rolled into the coffers of a saloon and bought woe and wretchedness and sin and shame. It became a bad dollar. It was stained now. It was covered with filth. Trace its sad history. It cannot be told here. But that dollar has a history of crime, woe and pollution. How can it be redeemed? Give it to Jesus. Consecration will transmute that coin and turn it into the currency of Heaven. And the gold of that land is good. Consecration means the giving of our wealth to Jesus — as the woman with the box of nard broke it over the Saviour. She gave the best she had. The aroma was not wasted. Consecration means the transmuting of character and the making of them something beautiful and enduring. Go into this graveyard and look at those stones. Some of them are so moss-covered that you cannot well read them : but they all stand for consecrated character. Others are forgotten, but these are remembered to-day. They gave their lives to Jesus and He beautified them, and they will be His when He makes up His jewels. A consecrated character becomes like Christ — gentle, honest, true, sweet, lovely. Let this mind be in you also that was in Christ Jesus. Our very circumstances are changed by consecrating them to Jesus. We may give to Him the bright day and the dark midnight. The pleasant and the imaginable circumstances of our lives should be given to Him. The contrary things of life, the domestic friction, the blue Monday, the scowl, the criticism, the hate, may all be given to Him. and He will change it all and make even the contrariness of life a blessing. Even the contrary winds may be used for our greatest vic- tories. I came down here on a bicycle. I was in a hurry, and so rode the wheel. If I had had plenty of time I could have come on the Long Island Railroad. Part of the way was easy wheeling. When I came down the Jamaica turnpike it was like sliding down hill. But part of the way it was hill-climbing, and the wind was against me and the sand was deep, and it was like pushing a truck: and when I readied -57- the top of the hill, against the wind and in spite of the sand. I felt that it was an achievement, and I thought that the very contrariness of life brings out manhood. By consecration, oh christians, it is possible to make even the worldliness of this world help us on to God and Heaven. It is so. A sea captain says that he can use a head wind to reach home by. He can use a wind that comes from the westward to drive his boat west- ward by tacking and turning. We may so use the world and its con- trariness that when we come to cast our crown at Jesus' feet we can say that the worldliness of the world and its temptations consecrated to Him have helped its on to sainthood. We should consecrate to Jesus the consequences of consecration. Give all to Him — life, talents, love — and He will confer the results. Many are afraid of what will happen. When a boy of fourteen I wanted to give my soul to Jesus, but I was afraid of the consequences. I was afraid He would want me to be a missionary or a minister. I wanted to make a half-hearted gift. He would not accept it. For weeks I carried about a heavy burden, 'till finally I told Him if He would give me peace I would be His and He could do as He liked with me — anything. And He did. He asked me to i>reach to the last the gospel. I cannot tell you the joy I have had. If I had one hundred lives I would want them all to be spent in the ministry. If I could live 999 years I would want to spend them all in preaching the gospel. The consequences of consecration Christ will care for. Give all to Him. and it will all come out right. At home is a little boy. We call him Hodo. The other day he tried to take his first steps. He was by his mother's knee. He wanted to come to me. I held out my arms for him. His eye kindled. He took a few steps. The way was long to him, but he looked into my eye —a look of love and consecration — and the little swaying feet did the rest, and he came bounding into my arms — bounding side to side, as a ferryboat entering the slip. Do you think I would have let him fall ? I would have sprung to him if his feet had tottered. So God asks us to commit our way to Him in consecration full and free. Rather than let us fall, He would reach down his arms from high Heaven all the way. He would let the universe fall rather than harm or lose one of his own. We may well consecrate the results of consecration to Christ. May the memory of all these years and lives make this hour of consecration very sweet and earnest. :,s After the impressive consecration service, conducted by the Rev. W. J. Peck, of Corona, Long- Island, the congregation sang the closing hymn " God be with you till we meet again," and the meeting closed with the Mizpah benediction. THE SABBATH SCHOOL CELEBRATION. The Sabbath School celebration was held Tuesday evening. When the closing exercises of the anniversary commenced promptly at 7.30 o'clock, the church was crowded to the doors and many persons were standing in the aisles. On the plat- form were Rev. C. E. Dunn, of Albany; Rev. W. J. Peck, of Corona; Dr. Louis Klopsch, of New York; Rev. A. H. Mc- Kinney, of New York; Rev. F. M. Kerr, .Mr. |. K. Davidson, Dr. C. H. Ludlum, of Hempstead, and Mr. Percy B. Bromheld, the Superintendent of the Sunday School, who presided. The exercises opening with an organ voluntary by Miss Yiola Bedell, after which the congregation all joined heartily in sing- ing " Onward Christian Soldiers. " Rev. W. |. Peck then read the sixty-second chapter of Isaiah and Rev. C. E. Dunn offered prayer. The school sang a beautiful carol, entitled "Sing Unto Jesus on this happy children's day," after which Mr. Percy B. Bromfield, Superintendent, delivered the following historical address on the Sunday School : Historical Address by Hr. Percy B. Bromfield. We usually speak of the Sunday School as the child of the church, hut as we are celebrating this evening the two hundred and fiftieth an- niversary of the parent, our Sunday School must necessarily he the great grand-child of this church, as we celebrate only her fifty-first birthday at this time, this Sunday School having been established in 1 s |:;. Perhaps some may think it strange that while the Sunday School was first born as far back as 1781, that so many years elapsed hefore this historic church adopted the new idea: but the fact is that when Robert Raikes established his Sabbath School in Gloucester, England, he little thought of the great institution of which he was destined to be the father, for his object was mainly to keep the children off the streets, and at the same time to teach them some of the elementary studies MR. l'KKCY B. BKOMKIKI.n. -59- which are now taught in our common schools. Fur this purpose he en- gaged paid teachers, the session being from 9 till 12 o'clock in the morning, and again from 1 till 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when they were sent home, being duly cautioned not to be unruly on the streets. The first quarter of a century was therefore a formative period for the Sunday School, and it was not until early in the 19th century that the Sabbath Schools became an adjunct of the church, when some churches in Pennsylvania adopted the idea and established the present institu- tion in this country. It was not. however, until the year of 1843, that some good ladies of Hempstead concluded to start the Sabbath School connected with this church, and according to the recollects >n of Mrs. Mary Ann Gildersleeve, it was largely through the efforts of Mrs. Sylvester Woodbridge, that the work was undertaken and the late Dr. John Davidson was appoint- ed the first Superintendent. After serving some years he was succeeded by Mr. Eldert Piatt and in the year 1854 Mr. James Myers, who is still living at New Rochelle, N. Y.. became the Superintendent. During these years they had held the sessions of the school for three years in the old church (now the parsonage) and the balance of the time in the gallery of the present church building ; but in 1856, under the Superin- tendent-}- of Mr. Daniel Sealey, the present Sunday School room was built and furnished with old high back pews and a sort of a pulpit. Little is known of the history of the school except as it is recalled by the men and women who in those days made up the children in at- tendance. We learn, however, that the following gentlemen have served the school as Superintendents in turn as named : Mr. Bloomfield, Mr. Merwin Rushmore, Mr. Elvan Weekes, Mr. Samuel M. Pine, Mr. J. Edward Davidson. Dr. Charles H. Ludlum and the present incum- bent. Mr. Percy B. Bromfield. Of these Mr. J. E. Davidson served ten years and Dr. C. H. Ludlum fourteen years. Under the Superintendency of Mr. Davidson alterations were made in the Sunday School room, the old pews were taken out and replaced by comfortable chairs, the platform was changed to the side of the room, and a primary department accommodating sixty scholars, was erected at the end of the building, greatly beautifying and enlarging the room. It is with pride and encouragement that we refer to the fact that we have, as officers and members of the school at present, some faithful workers, who were scholars when the chapel was built, and even before that time, Mr. Thomas F. Gilbert, the present Librarian, having been connected with the school since 1S47. (forty -seven years), and Mr. J. Seymour Snedeker. the present Secretary, having held that position -60- consecutively for twenty-seven years, and having been a member since 1850, (forty-three years), and for over twenty-five years he has not been absent a single Sunday. Mrs. Emma Harold, the Superintendent of the primary department. Miss Jnlia H. Thompson, and MissM. A. Kel- lnm. teachers in the main school, have all been regular attendants for many years, and there are many others long connected with the school and who have given years of faithful service, whom I should like to mention at this time, but will not do so for fear of omitting some. There are many also who have served in the school, either as offi- cer, teacher or scholar, who have been called home to their reward. Conspicuous among these I would mention Assistant Superintendent Richard Losea and Assistant Superintendent Albert F. Cornelius, whose faithful services will ever remain as fitting monuments to their memory. It is difficult to say what the attendance was in the early days, but for many years the average attendance was about one hundred and fifty: during the past few years, however, the attendance has steadily increased, and at present the Sunday School room is entirely too small, being un- comfortably crowded every Sunday, and makingit necessary to immedi- ately take steps towards the erection of a new building, and for which we have already started a fund. As we have so fittingly celebrated this im- portant event in our church history, may we soon erect a substantial monument in brick and stone, in the shape of a new Sunday School room, that will stand years after our humble services are forgotten, and we, with the grand old warriors of the early days of this church, have gone to our reward ! The following letters were read from friends of the school who were invited, but who were unable to be present: Brooklyn. N. Y.. Oct. 16. 1894. Mr. P. B. Bromfleld. Dear Sib: I am suffering this morning from a severe cold and fear I shall not be able to go to Hempstead to-night. I am sorry, but must submit. I suppose. Yours truly. M. Rushmore. Philadelphia. Sept. 25. 1*1)4. Mr. I'. />. Bromfleld, Hempstead, Long Island. My Dear Friend: I have delayed answering your esteemed invita- tion, hoping that I might be able to accept the honor conferred on me. But I am filled with regret that my official duties will take me west at that date on a tour of the Synods. 1 pray God to bless your celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Hempstead church. With sincere personal regards, Sours always. .1 LMES A. WORDEN. -61- Philadelphia. Oct. 3d, 1894. Mr. P. B. Bromfield, Hempstead, L. I. Dear Sir: I am very pleased to have your kind invitation to the great anniversary, but I am engaged for the days mentioned, and at such a distance from Hempstead, that it would not be possible for me to take part in the services. Very truly yours. John Waxamaker. New York. Oct. 10, isi)4. My Dear Mr. Bromfield: I am exceedingly sorry not to be at your anniversary, but I send you these few lines in greeting to assure you that if not there in bodily presence, I am there in spirit. More than two centuries of church life in this country form a remarkable experience, and one which calls for great gratitude to Almighty Ood. Since the founding of your church, methods have changed to meet changed circumstances, though the power upon which the work must depend, remains ever the same. It is Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day and forever. With His power no church can fail. Without it none succeed. Accept my heartiest wishes for your future prosperity and for such administration of church life as shall make the days more fruitful than those past. Yours very truly. A. F. SlHAFFFLER. Summary of Addresses by Dr. C. H. Ludlum and Mr. J. E. Davidson. Mr. J. Edward Davidson, who was Superintendent for a period of ten years, being introduced by the presiding officer, spoke in a happy manner about the great contrast Sunday School work of the present day presents to methods of earlier days, when he was a hoy. His ad- dress abounded in amusing reminiscences of his early Sunday School life, when few extras were indulged in on the part of the teachers for the benefit of the scholars. At present Christmas time is a season of great rejoicing in the school because of the many beautiful and valua- ble gifts which are given to teachers and scholars. He well remem- bered how Elder Piatt, at the holiday season, distributed New Year's cakes to the scholars, and tracts in abundance on •' foreordination" and ••predestination." Ashe had given ten years of hard work for the benefit of the school, he could never lose interest in this important work among the children and youth of the church and hoped that great bless- ings would come to all engaged in such christian purpose and effort. Dr. Charles H. Ludlum. who was Superintendent for a period of fourteen years, being introduced, spoke of the Sunday School as having its origin in the needs of the little ones. Some children might have the good fortune of religious instruction at home: but many are not favored —62— in this manner and must have a special organization to look after their interests in the religious life. The Sunday School is this organization. It meets to study the Bihle and to impress the minds of the children with the fact that the scrip- tures are the revelation of God to the people of this world and show Loth young and old how they she mid live so as to attain noble charac- ters and at last gain an entrance to Heaven. Childhood is the period of impressions. Teaching and training in the early days have a lasting effect upon the child. There is no need of starting bad influences. They come naturally; but it requires work to place the right principles and lessons in the young hearts. While this good teaching contends with many obstacles in the ordinary course of events, yet it is worth the effort, prayer and patience of Sunday School workers. To save a child's life is worth much to the coming genera- tion. The Doctor's best wish was that th< Sunday School of this church might accomplish this noble work. Miss Lina Van De Water sang a solo entitled " < >ne Sweetly Solemn Thought," and Dr. Louis Klopsch, proprietor of The Christian Herald, and Superintendent of Dr. Talmage's Sunday- School, Brooklyn, being introduced, spoke as follows : Address by Dr. Louis Klopsch. During the last three days this tirne-honored pioneer society has no doubt indulged in a wholesale retrospection, and re-lived over again and again the glorious scenes of its illustrious past, and I beg to be per- mitted to add my cordial congratulation, to those of others, on this mosl felicitous occasion, and were I this evening to address you as a church. I should endeavor to contribute one tiny twig, at least, to the launl wreath which other and more eloquent speakers have already entwined and placed upon the venerable brow of this faithful mother in Israel. May God richly bless her, and make her more and more a blessing to others. But I am to address my remarks to the Sal bath School, and on matters pertaining to that special phase of christian work. Now, 1 am an enthusiast on the subject of Sunday Schools, and. when the heart is full, the mouth is apt to overflow, but I will endeavor not to tire you. and will spend the few moments allotted to meon this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of this church, in indicating why, leaving the things of the past behind it. this Sunday School and all Sunday Schools should press forward to the mark of their high calling which is in Christ Jesus their Lord. —63— The ancient Assyrians, Babylonians and Egyptians committed the record of their religions to marble and granite, and by means of these inscriptions hoped to carry down through all generations a knowledge of their faith. But old Father Time comes along, and with his all- destrpying hand crumbles the marble and granite; and effaces from them, beyond all recognition, the marks that were placed upon them; a fact which finds pertinent illustration in the tomb-stones in your own church-yard. Others have tried to hand down to posterity in the shape of parchments, religions beliefs, and other knowledge, but time causes the paper to moulder and the ink to fade, and in the course of a few generations that which seemed destined to endure forever has become a thing of the past. Therefore, to-day we have hardly any authentic facts concerning the religions of the ancient people who pinned their faith to marble and to granite, and the oldest manuscript does not date back as far as the beginning of the christian era. But in India the followers of Brahma and the teachers of the Buddhist faith inscribe the words of their religion on the hearts and the minds of their children and their children's children, and thus in- delibly engraven, these words are handed down from age to age and from generation to generation, so that to-day, at a most remote period from the original foundation of these religions, we can with almost un- failing accuracy learn from the lips of main* of their disciples every- thing necessary and essential to the propagation of their faith. What these Buddhists and Brahmans are doing in their schools of theology, and what the Jewish patriarch is doing in his own home in obedience to the divine will, emphasized again and again in the Old Testament, that our Sunday Schools are doing Sunday after Sunday, and our children are becoming grounded and rooted in the sacred word, and through them and the continued effor.ts of the Sunday School in that direction, the religion of our Lord Jesus will be carried down throughout all time and even into eternity. Only that which is in- scribed on the human heart of flesh and the human mind can endure ! Sunday Schools gather in the children at an age when they are most susceptible to influence, good or evil, and they win them over gradually but surely for the Master's service, and thus consecrate whole lives to Him. We attach, unfortunately, too little importance to work among the little children : but it is surely the most important of all christian woi*k. When an old man of sixty, or seventy, or eighty, kneels at the altar and decides to give the balance of his unprofitable life to the ser- vice of the Master, the congregation is apt to go wild in its ecstacy over the occasion, while if half a dozen children were converted at that same altar, they would consider the latter as of little or no account. -64— Now old Mr. Jones may only have a year or two to live. After he has lived for fifty, sixty or seventy years, and spent his substance in riotous living and wasted his energies, his physical strength, his mental acquisi- tions, his money, and nearly all of everything he ever had worth having, and comes with a miserable remnant and lays it down upon the altar, we go wild over it: while those little children who, in all probability, have each consecrated sixty or seventy years of continuous future ser- vice for the Lord, are passed by as insignificant, and yet if each were to do but one good act a day, three hundred and sixty-five good acts a year, in the course of that seventy years it would have over twenty-five thousand good acts to its credit — a Vanderbilt in Heaven. Better one such life, with its continuous and prolonged ministrations, than a dozen of fag end, job lots, and comparatively worthless remnants, represent- ing simply that which cannot any more be enjoyed by the giver. In my humble opinion, the great problem which confronts this na- tion to-day. of assimilating and amalgamating the vast foreign element which continually crowds our shores, and which at the present time has become one of the foremost problems, is now being solved and will continue to be solved by the Sunday School. There is the Jew, the Polish Jew, the Russian Jew, the German Jew. We look upon them somewhat with contempt, but we should bear in mind that each one of these Jews has in him the blood of Moses, of Abraham, of David and of our own dear Lord. These Jews of royal lineage and of purple blood may stubbornly and obstinately refuse to come to our places of wor- ship, but their little children are drawn in and are being educated and trained up in our glorious religion, and they go home and ask difficult questions, and sing sweet hymns, and say strange things, and that bigoted father and mother become more and more tolerant until at last the orthodox Jew becomes liberal and the liberal Jew becomes chris- tianized. Then there are the Italians. We frequently look upon them as cattle, and yet in their veins flows the blood of a Christopher Colum- bus, and of a Garibaldi, and of a Galileo. There are other nationali- ties : the Chinese and the Hungarians, with the blood of Louis Kossuth coursing through their veins, every one of them possessed of an immor- tal soul. All these will be brought in through the influence of Sunday School work, lovingly, diligently and conscientiously performed as in the sight of God. Then there are two million men and women engaged in Sunday School teaching, who because of this duty, are, in the Master's name, poring over His blessed word, and are familiarizing themselves and acquaint- ing themselves with His will concerning us. Two million men and women who. but for this special incentive, would content themselves —65— with reading mechanically a brief chapter morning and evening and delude themselves that they were studying G-od's word. How much good these two million people are doing to their own souls and the souls of others, and the influence they are exerting, eternity alone shall reveal. Then as the membership of the church dies off, it is replenished from the Sunday Schools. In my own school if I want a teacher, I go to the bible classes, wherein are the young men and young women who from childhood's days have gradually grown up and developed, and from them I make my selections. So the church amplifies its numbers, fills its vacancies, draws from its helpers and supporters on the Sunday School, and a scriptually intelligent, discriminating membership is the result. And I believe that in the near future many of the sermons which to-day are attentively listened to because they are so dull and heavy that no one can understand them, will not be tolerated when ad- dressed to a generation of people who have been trained in the admoni- tion and the fear of the Lord, and in the knowledge of His word under the present Sunday School system. May this grand Sunday School, under the leadership of your able Superintendent, my friend, Mr. Bromfield. and the Sunday Schools of this country and of all countries make such advances and such strides in the direction of the right, that this church will never again see an- other two hundred and fifty years of service, biit that long before that time the millennium may dawn and the church militant be transformed into the church triumphant. At the close of Dr. Klopsch's interesting- address the pre- siding- officer announced the patriotic hymn, " My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing ; Land where my fathers died, Land of the Pilgrim's pride, From ev'ry mountain side, Let freedom ring," which the congregation sang in an enthusiastic manner. The benediction was then pronounced by the pastor, and the cele- bration, which had been such a success in every way, was closed in a fitting manner. Appendix. PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL. OFFICERS. Percy B. Bromfield, J. Seymour Snedeker. Walter D. Ludlum, Thomas F. Gilbert. Daniel E. Sealey. William H. Campbell. Mrs. J. K. Boyd, (ii \i;i.ks A. Eyeritt. Miss Viola S. Bedell. J. H. Roberts. Miss Mamie E. Sealey. Superintendent. last. Superintendent. Secretary. Libra rid ii . Asst. Librarians. Female Asst. Supt. Treasurer. Organist. Precentor. Asst. Organist. OFFICERS OF MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Dr. C. H. Ludlum, J. E. Patterson. J. P. H. de Windt. Preside til . Vice-President. Secretary and Treasurer. TEACHERS. Miss Teresa E. Allison. Miss Edna Allison. Miss Emma E. Bennett. Miss Ida Cooper, Mrs. L . H. Clowes. Mrs. M. Augusta pollins, E. P. Gardner, Mr. Edmund S. Hyde. Mrs. Emma F. Harold. Miss Josie Heald. Miss Emma C. Jerome Miss Maria A. Kellum, Mrs. W. Z. Ketchain, Dr. Charles H. Ludlum, Mr. Clinton W. Ludlum. Miss Florence Minshull. Miss Mrs. F. W. Miller. Miss Minnie Noon. Mrs. M. D. Nichols. Mrs. (t. W. Pavntar. Mrs. S. H. Powell. Mr. J. E. Patterson. Miss Josie Place. Mr. J. H. Roberts. Miss Alletta Ryder. Mr. William Schilling, Mrs. Martha Sealey. Miss Edna R. Seaman. Miss Julia Stoft'el. Miss Mamie E. Sealey. Miss Julia H. Thompson. Miss Bessie H. Thompson, Sophie Werner. —67— SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. Miss L. A. Bedell. Mrs. A. Hendrickson, Miss Nora E. Bedell. Miss Nellie Jerome. Mrs. P. B. Bromfield, Mrs. Frank M. Kerr. Miss Ada M. Chapman, Mrs. Chas. H. Ludlmn. Mrs. J. P. H. de Windt. Miss C. Noble, Mrs. Fanny Davidson, Mrs. C. F. Norton. Mrs. Dykes. Mrs. C. Robinson. Mr. J. E. Davidson. Mrs. T. Edward Seaman, Mrs. Henry C. Eldredge, Mrs. Apollos Smith. Mrs. J. H. Epworth. Mrs. Mary E. Sprague. Miss Louise Hassinger, Miss Susie Tredwell, Mrs. F. W. Werner. CHURCH SOCIETIES. OFFICERS OF THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY. Mrs. F. W. Miller. Mrs. C. H. Ludlum, Mrs. (L W. Payntar Mks. E. Kellum, President. Vice-President. Secretary. Treasurer. Meetings once a month. OFFICERS OF THE WOHEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Mrs. S. H. Powell. President. Mrs. M. Vail, Vice-President. Miss Julia H. Thompson, - - Secretary. Mrs. T. E. Seaman. Treasurer. Meetings third Wednesday of each month. OFFICERS OF THE GLEANERS' BAND. Mrs. M. Sealev. Directress. Miss ALLETTA RYDER. President. Miss Edna Allison, Vice-President. Miss Teresa E. Allison. Secretary. Miss Agnes Smith. " Treasurer. Meetings once a month. —68— OFFICERS OF THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. Mr. Edmund Hyde. - President. Miss Teresa Allison, Vice: President. Miss Maud Oliver. - Bee. Secretary. Miss Cornelia Conklin, - Treasurer. Mrs. S. H. Powell. - Cor. Secretary. Meetings every Sunday evening. A Brief History of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. As mothers fondly welcome their children's children, even unto the third and fourth generation, so. in like manner, did this mother church take to her warm embrace, this youngest of all her many de- scendants, the child, " Christian Endeavor." Comparing its fourteen years with the two hundred and fifty of its venerable grandmother, it is still an infant, (although of prodigious growth), and there never nestled in the ancient " cradle of Presbyterianism" a more precious babe than the Christian Endeavor Society of this dear old church. It was organized in November, 1890. with a membership of four- teen, eleven active, two associate, and one affiliate. Since then its growth has been steady, perhaps not so much numer- ically, as spiritually, although the number is over one hundred, and has done much to develop the intellectual and spiritual power of its members. Its aim is towards the motto, "For Christ and the Church;" its object, to assist in all christian work ; its results are far reaching, and this old church may to-day be proud to give the Christian Endeavor Society of Christ's First Presbyterian Church, a place in this honored celebration. MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. Albertson, Thomas W. Albertson, Mrs. Harriet T. Albertson, Mrs. Anna Duryea Armstrong, Mrs. Ellen S. Armstrong, Miss Isabella Armstrong. Miss Deborah Armstrong, Edgar J. Allen, Mrs. Priscilla J. Adams, Harvey B. Adams. Mrs. .Sarah E. Allison, Miss Edna Allen. Mrs. Susie Bedell Bedell, Mrs. Coles Bedell, Mrs. Emeline Bedell, Miss Sarah P. Bedell, Miss Leonora Bedell. Mrs. Mary Bedell, Mrs. Harriet Ann Bedell, Mrs. Emma J. Bedell, Franklin D. Bedell, Mrs. Fannie B. Bedell. Miss Hattie Bedell. Miss Nora Bedell, Miss Cornelia Bedell, David Bedell, Mrs. Ruth Bedell, Mrs. Annie B. Bedell, Miss Viola S. Bedell. Mrs. Charles A. Bedell, Miss Jennie Bennett, Mrs. Cornelia Bennett, Miss Emma E. Bennett. Miss Cornelia Bennett. James Henry Bromfield, Percy B. Bromfield, Mrs." Emma M. Boyd, Mrs. Emma A. Bu'rtis, Mrs. Marv Birchell, Mrs. Julia E. Brownell, Miss Maude L. Brownell, Miss Anna May Brownell, Mrs. Anna J. Bray, Frank *Deceased since celebration. Bray, Mrs. Milla Bray, Miss Helen A. Burchard, Mrs. Hattie Bedell Bond, Eugene Boyd, Miss Mabel Baldwin. George W. Bassett, Mrs. Caroline Adams Banchback, Miss Kate J. Campbell, Mrs. Hattie E. Clowes. Miss Ann Augusta Clowes, Miss Augusta Clowes. Mrs. Mary D. Coles, Mrs. Elizabeth *Coles. Mrs. Lydia Cooper, Edward Cooper, Mrs. Adaline Cooper, Miss Ida S. Conklin. William F. *Conklin. Mrs. Sarah E. Conklin, Cornelia D. Conklin, Mrs. Martha F. Conklin. Miss Emma R. Cotte. Mrs. Mattie Phelps Collins, Mrs. M. G. Chapman, Miss Ada M. Cox, Miss Agnes R. Davidson, J. E. Davidson. Mrs. Elizabeth D. Davidson, Augustus *Davidson. Mrs. Letitia K. Davidson, Mrs. Fannie Davis, Mrs. Mary E. De la Montagnie, Henry De la Montagnie, Mrs. Henry DeMott, Andrew J. DeMott, Mrs. Hannah P. DeMott. Miss Susan E. Dvkes, Mrs. William Doty, Mrs. L . Beck DeWindt, J. P. H. DeWindt, Mrs. Millie Berry Downing, Willis J. -70- Davis, Russell B. Denton. Mrs. Jennie Weeks Denton. .Miss Minnie Denton. Miss Emma D. Eldridge, Henry C. Eldridge, Mrs. Mary B. Everitt. Mrs. Elizabeth Everitt. Miss Mabel Everitt, Miss Ella J. Everitt. Charles A. Ellison, Mrs. Annie A. Epworth, Mrs. Annie Epworth. Miss Florence May Emory, George Emory. Mrs. Hannah W. Fleet. Luke Fleet, Miss Clara Fleet, Miss Helen G. Fowler. David Franklin, C. F. Franklin. Mrs. Annie T. D. Fitch, Miss Frances C. Firth. Miss Clara B. Fowler. Miss Louisa Gilbert, Thomas F. Gilbert, Mrs. Phebe Gilbert, Thomas F.. Jr. Gracy. Mrs. Mary L . Gracy, Daniel Gracy, Miss Frances M. Grossman, Miss' Minnie M. Golden, Mrs. E. Birchell GartrelL Mrs. William Green, Mrs. Melinda Gillett, Mrs. K. Henderson Gasser, Miss Emma B. H Harold. Mrs. Emma F. Hawkins. William 11. Hawkins. Mrs. Ellen L. Hendrickson, Mrs. Eliza Hendrickson. Mrs. Adaline Hopkins. Mrs. Mary Ann Hopkins. Miss Mary Anna *J>eceased sinc< lebration, Higbie. Miss Abbie A. Hull, Miss Eunice B. Hatfield, Miss Laura Hinds, Ephraim Hinds, Mrs. CM. Hinds. Miss Hannah A. Hinds. Miss Ada T. Hunter, David Hunter, Mrs. D. J. Hubbard, Mrs. Mary Oliver Hvde. Edmund S. Hyde. Miss Mary C. Hall. Amelia S. Hingle. Mrs. Mary E. Heald. Miss Josephine D. Holmes. Mrs. Leah C. Holmes. Miss Jennie D. L. Hall, Miss Amelia S. Henderson. Mrs. Catherine Hendrickson, Miss Ellen H. Hays, John Jerome Hendrickson, Miss A. C. Hass. Max I Ingraham, Mrs. Gertrude J. Jepson. Joachim Jepson. Mrs. Ann Jerome. Miss Emma L . Jerome. Miss Nellie B. Jennings. Miss Ellen M. Jennings. Miss Annie V. K '""Kellum. Ebenezer Kellum. Ebenezer. Jr. Kellum. Mrs. Mary Kellum. Miss Marie A. Kellum. Miss Phebe Ketcham, Mrs. Ida F. Ketcham, Miss Ida A. Ketcham. Miss Sarah E. Kindgrab, I [enry Kindgrab, Mrs. Katrine Kerr.' Mrs. Evelyn N. Lcvs. Mis. Mary Jerome Louden. Mrs. Gertrude H, Losea, Miss Elizabeth Ludlum, Charles H. Ludlum , Mrs. Jennie W. Ludlum, Clinton W. Ludlum. Mrs. Edith M. Ludlum. Miss Alice M Mersereau, John B. Mersereau, Mrs. Alletta R. Mersereau. Charles E. Mersereau. John W. Mills. Robert Mills. Mrs. Esther Minshull. Mrs. S. H. Minshull, Miss Florence H. Monagan. Miss Ann Mowbray, Mrs. Elizabeth .Myers. Miss Ida F. Matthews, John Matthews, Mrs. Julia Mackay. John Mackay, Mrs. Mary B. *Marsh,"Mrs. Caroline Miller. Mrs. Augusta Meginn, Mis^ Mary E. Mendoza. Alexander Meyers. Miss Josephine MC. McCoy, Miss Emma L . McCoy. Miss Carrie McLean, Mrs. Christie McCoy, Miss Mary A. McKenzie. John A. McKenzie. Mrs. Isabelle McKeige. Ferdinand N Nebee. Mary Norton, Mrs. Sarah Nostrand. Mrs. Alice W. Noon, Mrs. Ann J. (Cox) Nichols, Mrs. M. D. Noon. Miss Minnie Osso. Miss Mary Ann P Parsons. Mrs. Rebecca S. *I)ert>ase