iiiiii IliliN - .1 ' "■ ■" 1 r. . ■ . J ' ■ '1- 3 ■^iiJ_>Ai_i-.i-_i ^-UB iMMm- Mrm I ■ * '■■ -T J'f I,! ' Si l' ■.'li'l ,1 m CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM _ Cornell University Llbrarv F 129W29 W29 "'®'''ilIXi.iRJ!.,.te,.,9^"**""3' celebration W olin 3 1924 028 826 639 Cornell University Library The original of this bool< is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028826639 ELIZUR WEBSTER HISTORY OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Warsaw, Wyoming County New York June 28 - July 2. 1903 1 803 - 1903 LAURA BRISTOL ROBINSON Editor Published by authority of the^Warsaw Centennial Association by The Western New-Yorker Warsaw,. New Yorli CONTENTS Intkodtjction PART ONE Historical Discouesbs Presbyterian Church, Rev. L. M. Sweet Methodist Church, John B. Small wood Congregational Church, Rev. H. E. Gurney Baptist Church, Rev. A. S. Cole Episcopal Church, Rev. H. S. Gatley Evangelical Association, Rev. I. K. Devitt Roman Catholic Church, Sketch by the Editor PART TWO Address ov "Welcome, Hon. E. E. Farman, LL. D. Address, Hon. William Henry Merrill Address, Merrill Edwards Gates, LL. D., L. H. D. Address, Harwood A. Dudley Centennial Hymn, Mrs. Merrill E. Gates Resolutions PART THREE Symposium Rev. George D. Miller, D. D., Miss Elizabeth Young, Mr. William E. "Webster, Miss Elizabeth Bishop, Mr. Palmer C. Fargo, Miss Emma R. Mmiger, Mr. Lewis E. Walker, Mrs. Belle Bristol Kurtz, Miss Blanche L. Thayer, Commander Zera L. Tanner, Miss Mabel E. Smallwood, Prof. Horace Briggs, Mr. J. Edwin Dann, Harrison Darling Jenks, M. D., Mrs. Eliza Gates Milne, Mrs. Ella Hawley Crossett, Prof. Irving B. Smith. Sketch of Hon. Augustus Frank Sketch of Hon. Wolcott J. Humphrey Sketch of Hon. Lester Hay den Humphrey PART FOUR IsTTEonucTOET Addeess, Col. A. B. Lawrence Letters, Hon. William P. Letchworth Address, Hon. William Bristol Dedicatoey Address, Gen. E. S. Otis, U. S. A. Addeess, Commander Zera L. Tanner, U. S. N. Address, Gen. John S. Koster, G. A. R. Remaeks, Frank Coffee, Jr. Poem, Mrs. Bessie Chandler Parker Addeess, Gen. S. F. McAiiliff Remaeks, Col. Charles A. Orr High School Banquet Poem, Miss Mary E. Dann PART FIVE Address, Governor B. B. Odell, Jr. After Dinner Talks Governor Odell, Justice Albert Haight, Hon. James W. Wadsworth, Hon. James H. Loomis Parade Program INTRODUCTION The idea of celebrating in some appropriate man- ner the one hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Warsaw originated with Major Harwood A. Dud- ley, and to him, primarily, belongs the credit of our beautiful "Centennial". At his call and under his direction and inspiration, public meetings were held during June and July of 1902 which resulted in the organization of the Warsaw Centennial As- sociation, with Hon. Elbert E. Farman, LL. D. as president; Mrs. Laura Bristol Robinson, secretary and Wolcott J. Humphrey, treasurer. Subsequently a number of vice-presidents and committees were chosen. Meetings of the Association were held at frequent intervals for many months and reports received from the various committees which were, meanwhile, doing a large amount of work in preparation for the great event looked forward to with so much interest and pleasure. It was decided that the centennial celebration should begin on Sunday, June 28, 1903, with his- torical sermons in the local churches, and end with a grand parade on Thursday afternoon, July 2nd, 10 HISTOllY OF THE and every interest in the town gradually became centered on these dates. The finance committee did its work so energetic- ally and met with such cheerful and generous response to appeals for money that the sum of $2,720 was soon at its disposal. This was appor- tioned according to an estimate made by the differ- ent committees of their probable needs and expen- ses in carrying out plans for the centennial obser- vances. Everything was done on a broad and gen- erous scale yet such good judgment was shown in all expenditures that instead of a deficit, as might have been expected, a balance remained in the treas- ury after all bills had been paid. At last, after much care and thought and hard work, the programs were made out and all arrange- ments for the celebration completed, including the erection of a large tent on Mrs. Frank's lawn, south-east corner of Main and East Court streets, in which to hold the meetings. When the sun had dispelled the mist and clouds hovering over the sleeping Wyoming valley on Sun- day morning, June 28, 1903, its rays fell upon a scene of wondrous beauty. It was the beginning of Warsaw's Centennial Celebration. Willing hands of men and women, boys and girls, whose hearts were filled with civic pride and a glad welcome for the home-comers, had joined in this labor of love, and the whole town was decked in gayest color. The thousands of visitors who came to WAdasAW CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 11 ''arsaw during centennial week, marvelled at the sauty and splendor of its decorations. The reception in the Town Hall on Monday ening was one of the happiest thoughts of the itire program, the hostesses being representatives many of the oldest famihes in town. At least ght hundred people were in attendance and there as a cordiality and heartiness of greeting, a kind- less of spirit, a sincerity of manner which one 3ver finds at any merely formal affair. It was a eeting of old friends after long separation, a ivival of names familiar in the old days; all were )oys" and "girls" again, forgetting for an hour le changes which time had wrought. All plans id arrangements for this social event, as well as ir the Governor's banquet, were in charge of the ispitality committee, and under direction of the )mmittee on decorations the hall had been trans- •rmed into a place of beauty worthy of the occa- on. The whole celebration was a most successful and ippy affair in every detail, a fine exemplification ■ what can be accomplished by systematic, well- irected, harmonious effort. "Warsaw was ready ith a warm greeting for her returning sons and lughters, her grandsons and grand-daughters, worthy ascendants of worthy ancestors who founded this >wn in the early years of the nineteenth century; icestors who stamped upon the town those charac- jristics which make men and women proud of 12 IiistoHy ot- Tiiw their birth-place. The week was rich in the gloriow of noble ancestry, heroic history and happy roniinis- censes. It revealed Warnaw's title to honor and her strength to mahitain the nobility oi lior heri- tage. There were many tender moniorios of days that are past and friends that aro gone, wliicli brought now and then a tinge of sadness into the festivities; but all in all Warsaw's "ConUiunial week" was a happy and glorious one, to be hallow- ed forever in the hearts of her people. Officers and Committees President, Hon. Elbert E. rarmaii, LL. D. ; St^crtv tary, Mrs. Laura Bristol Robinson; Treasiiror, Wolcott J. Humphrey. Vice-Presidents— Hon. William Bristol, Hon. Myron I). Bartlett, Hon. George M. Palmer, M. I)., Hon. Hyroii Healy, Simeon D. Lewis, Hon. 1. Sam .lohnson, lion. James E. Norton, I'rof. Irving U. Smith, Nathan 8. Beardslee, Eben O. McNalr, John B. Suiallwood, Frank W. Brown, Dr. Zera J. Lusk, Dr. Wllllnni C. Goulnlock, Palmer C. Fargo, (Jeorge C. Otis, 0. Tallnyraiul Hartlett, Noble Morris, Col. Abram B. Lawrenuo, Kdward M. Jen- nings, Lewis E. Walkor, Romalne Warner, Albort Lyon, H, Mills Fisher, William D. Martin, James A. Main, Silas 1''. Mann, William J. Ballintlne, Daniel E. Kcionoy, Samuel U. Humphrey, Asa A. Luther, Sylvanus E. Brady, William W. Smallwood, John Brown, Samuel 1). I'lirdy, MarHhall A. Richards, Niles Keeney, James E. HIhMop, William W. Prentice, Dr. Romanzo ]'erl- Q < a: NINETY-FIVE YEARS OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY Historical Sermon. PresDyterlan Church. Warsaw. N. Y., June 28. 1903 By the Pastor, Rev. Louis M. Sweet Ti:XT: Psalnis 87: 5. And of Zion it shall be said: This and tlmt man was horn in her; a)id the Highest hinv- self shall estahKsh her. There is a point where the road from Bethany winds about the brow of the Mount of Oliyes that the traveller gains suddenly and unexpectedly a full view of the Holy City. In the days of its glory it rose fair and beautiful sheer out of its deep-cut surroiuidiDg valleys, as if soar- ing on wings of white and gold, to meet the New Jerusa- lem that John saw in his vision. And one can imagine the emotions with which a de- vout Hebrew, coming perhaps from a distance and after years of exile, would gaze upon the City that he so fondly loved. With tear dimmed eyes and voice choking with the stress of feeUug imfeigned, he might well say : "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tougue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem to my chief joy." And then, mindful of history, with the vision of Prophet and Law-giver, King and Poet crowding the heroic jMist — ^he might naturally speak the words of the text : "And of Zion it shall be said: This and that man was bom in her, and the Highest himself shall establish her." With feelings akin to those of the ancient Hebrew, my people, we gaze this morning upon this Zion, beloved of man and honored of God, from the height of nearly one hundred years. It sounds a very simple thing when you tell it in so many words, that on the 14th day of July, 1808, a com- pany of pioneers gathered jn the house of ope of them to 20 HISTOBY OF THE form a Christian Church. It was a primitive group meet- ing under primitive conditions. The settlement had been made but five years ; the lit- tle community of perhaps a hundred rather widely scat- tered families was surrounded by a vast and almost un- broken wilderness. The surroundings were bald and crude and the conditions of life were hard. But the word " pioneers " implies that there were others to come. These men held the great future in their grasp. It is never the part of wisdom to despise the acorn, the small boy or the new community. Besides, though the community was new, it struck its roots deep into the past. In order to understand the religious history of Warsaw, you must go back to Pil- grim New England, Plymouth Bock and the Mayflower; to Leyden and John Robinson; to the historic origin of our branch of Protestantism in the reforming zeal, the doctrinal clearness and creative statesmanship of John Calvin and his associates. It was a strong ancestry that went to the making of these new American coni- munities. The germ that was planted here in the wilderness had a wonderful history. It was characteristic of the stock from which these men came that at the earliest possible moment in the growth of the settlement, the church and the school house were established. Religion and education are the pillars of the arch upon which the temple of American Liberty stands. Right here the strength of our pioneer stock was exhibited and the drama of American history enacted. A number of years ago a distinguished Ameri- can orator in the course of an address on the English- speaking race said: "That it is the founder of Common- wealths, let the miracle of Empire which it has wrought upon this western continent attest. It has advanced from the sea-board with the rifle and the axe, the plow and the shuttle, the teapot and the Bible, a rocking chair and a spelling book, a bath-tub and a free constitution, sweeping across the Alleghanies, overspreading the prairies and pushing on until the dash of the Atlantic in its ears dies in ■ the murmur of the Paciflc ; and as, wheneyer the goddess of the old mythology touched the WAESAW CENTEISTNIAI, CEIEBEATION 21 earth, flowers and fruits answered her footfall, so in the long trail of this advancing race it has left clusters of happy states, teeming with a population, man by man, more intelligent and prosperous than ever before the sun shone upon, and each remoter camp of that triumphal march is but a farther outpost of English-speaking civil- ization. " Of this creative colonizing type were the founders of this community and this church. Scant justice, however, would be done to the vigor and devotion of the founders of the church, if we should forget that they had other difficulties to face and over- come than the crudities of nature and the severities of climate. From enthusiastic writers on the subject one might draw the very erroneous impression that all colonists, who entered these wilds, were religious pilgrims, and that every new settlement was a little Bethel in the forests. On the contrary many of the settlements were notori- ously wicked and irreligious — and if the truth must be told. Western New York was rather conspicuous in this respect. "We have abundant contemporary testimony to the existence of wide-spread irreligion and immorality in this region. It was even a proverb that there was "no religion west of the Genesee Eiver. " There was a club of missionary atheists in the neigh- borhood of Batavia, who with a zeal worthy of a much nobler cause, filled the whole region with anti-christian literature. A document of the time, describes this coun- try as "among the most destitute in the United States." All the greater honor, therefore, to the men and women, who rose above their surroundings, and, resisting the drift, anchored their little community to the Eock of Ages. Let us listen again to their names : Edward Good- speed, Eliphalet Parker, Luther Parker, Ezra Walker, Abraham Reed, Israel Branch, Polly Day, Prudence Walker, Martha Parker, Rhoda Parker. As might be expected from their New England an- cestry, and from their circumstances, the form of gov- en^ment was independent, but the first minister was 22 ttlSTORT OF THE Presbyterian. Throughout this region the majority of church members, early in the century, were New England Independents, but the ministers were nearly all Presby- terians. Of the personality of the Bev. John Lindsley, who met with our pioneer band on that eventful day in July, we know almost nothing. In 1800 the Presbyterian General Assembly meeting at Philadelphia, appointed Jedediah Chapman and John liindsley missionaries to the "Northwestern frontier." Mr. Chapman was settled at Geneva, where he was to spend one half of his time — the other half was to be spent in itinerant missionary work. Lindsley was settled at what is now the town of Covert in Seneca County, in the same way. In the course of a missionary journey eight years later, he performed the important service of presiding at our first church meeting. The church was formed upon two documents: A Con- fession of Faith and a Covenant. The first of these is a remarkably clear, comprehen- sive and simple paper, of most tremendous and thorough- going Calvinism. The 9th, 10th and 11th articles read thus: "That man in his fallen state is totally depraved and performs no act acceptable to God before he is regene- rated by the Holy Spirit. "That holiness is disinterested love, so that all saints love God for what he i& in himself and are benevolent towards all his intelligent creatures. "That all who truly love Christ will persevere in holi- ness, being kept by the power of God through faith un- to salvation." The Covenant is a most beautiful utterance of con- secrated devotion: "You do now in the presence of God, Angels, and men avouch the great Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be your God. You receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your all sufficient Savior and only Redeemer. Renouncing every sinful way, you devote your all unre- servedly to God and engage to obey all His . commands and ordinances in His word." I wonder whether you catch the significance of those WAESAW CENTEiraiAL CELEBRATION 23 two documents ? Here was a handful of men and women, surrounded by wild beasts and' wilder men, g^rt about by the illimitable forests, yet consciously in the presence of God, the angels and the assembled Universe, affirming con- victions that reach out into the unseen, range the two eternities past and to come and bind the humble group to the very throne of the Infinite. You may agree with their statements of truth, or you may not, but it is a fact, that great men and great states have been formed by just such ideas. When we come back again to that pioneer group the scene has lost its barreness, its crudeness and insignificance — we are in the presence of something great, broad, im- perial. For the first five years the. infant church was minis- tered to almost entirely by missionaries. The names of John Lindsley, Oliver Ayer, John Spencer, Eoyal Phelps, Mr. Alexander, Reuben Parmele, Allen HoUister appear at intervals in the church records in connection with some service rendered as they passed upon their journeys. "We read such items as this: "On Monday, February 30, 1812, a lecture was preached on the West Hill by Kev. Oliver Ayer, and Polly, Cyrus, Eebekah, Ora and Eliza, children of Zerah and Janet Tanner were baptized." The cycles of human experience, birth and death, baptism, confession, marriage and burial fill these artless records and at many points the life of the community was touched and blessed by these journeying men of God, that like Paul were always reaching out for "the regions beyond." It would be well for us to have in mind the type pre- sented by the frontier missionaries. Among the names on the earliest records of the church appears that of John Spencer— Father Spencer, as he was affectionately desig- nated throughout Western New York. From the accounts that have reached us he was a sturdy and eminently lov- able Christian man. He was one of those of whom it has been happily spoken, "He was called to be a preacher of the Gospel, but not called to be a Bachelor of Arts." For many years a deacon in the Congregational Church of Worcester, Otsego County, without other education than that of common schools of his day, he felt impelled by 24 HISTORY OF THE the religious destitution about him to become a preacher of the Gospel. He was a clear thinker, a plain, ready speaker and a most devout Christian, and these were the qualifications for his office. He was ordained by the Northern Associated Presbytery, October, 1800. His work was difficult, he had long distances to cover, the roads were bad; his entertainment was sometimes of the scan- tiest, but he had the genuine missionary devotion, and the true pioneer pluck, and went steadily and cheerily on his way bringing a blessing wherever he went. He died in 1826 at the age of 68 years. With such clear cut doctrinal views and strict ideas of the conduct befitting a member of the church, cases of discipline, both in doctrine and morals were inevitable. The church dealt with these cases, regularly and char- itably, but with a firmness of touch, a minuteness of in- vestigation, and finality of judgment of which we know very little. One case of discipline in those early days especially interested me. A member of the church was brought under accusa- tion on the following charges : 1. Neglecting to walk with the church. 2. Making use of profane language. 3. Join- ing in scenes of carnal amusement and dancing. 4. Mak- ing intemperate use of ardent spirits. After full and careful investigation the charges were sustained and a letter of admonition was sent him. Tliis was on June 4, 1812. On November 25th, the disciplined member appeared before the church and made confession of wrong doing. Under date of November 30th, appears the short and simple record: "A. B. removed by death." The whole case had been taken to a higher court. Nothing could more clearly show the real and vital grip of the Church upon the minds and consciences of the people. Its authority was respected, its admonitions were usually heeded, and its condemnation was always dreaded. In spite of the brevity and dryness of ecclesiastical records interesting glimpses of personal character are now and then obtained through them. We see the man of tender and scrupulous conscience. Josiah Royce, an applicant for church membership asked to be released from giving assent to the last clause of WJLRSAW CKSrKSXIAL CKUKKRATIOX :J5 tke IStti, AitMe of the ContesioTi of Faitii, irltMi is a st»t>»ae&t ti»t af^ier C>iri$i's :)[ilkimial leign iqicai eaxtlt "ttieie will be a tidtii^ a^r»T tor a little sae*swtt." After inaitni>e deiibexation tb« ehuveli deeided to £:r:ir.T the r>- ^v.e$t. It \r»s jui exMlKtiaii of Mmsrie:]itiOii&uess e!jiis amoi^ tiie saintly 6»<;*s in this gallnj itrf poitzsdt sirwhr*. A "traiujui futiKM- back than the moMHir of any peism Ut- iK? extends -n^as posse^aed of a tvH^ue not to be de- s^pased by any, be he ciak or layman. A ^pieeimea oi her Tltap«atiTe gifts is ^lead upon the minaies anl wold have done eiedit to Shimei the son of Geta, irbose eois- irur made him Mstoiic The men of that eaudy day -were schcv>"oa in pati«iee by a mascnSne speeimen of the Gienns quameisome. They were all men "witti the baik on," bwt baik *ws not neoessanly imply tilKMnis. The man \riMHn I hare jv^ ntentionedl eimtiniiaUy le^ apjviars as a center rf trooMe and distivrtsuaee, and a quanel in vhich he 15 the eential wroie dra^ its veaiy \r»y tiaoogh three vesjs of tie Church's Hfe. It was a nohte eshiMticHi of the seii^e oif ie£$x>imbil- itv for the s«>al e affiur at alL Less p»ti«nt men woiiM haxe thrown the eutiie nnpteasantne^ o«i of dsXHS loiwr befoie, Doetrinal exaetne^ w»s leqniied of ehundt memb«s in tiM»9e dar*- "R*^ ^H''^^ which the Dean of TTesstnunster was cmce accvsed iHae m»aber would emhiace what w*ie ^vvkcvt upon as dangeivH^ and hevetieal Tie-«-s- These wiere ps«H^ptiy dealt with, but it fe wwithy of note that they used wes^^ons of persiasaoa. ieas>ou and scripture, and 50 in > z rn WARSAW CENTENNIAL CBLEBKATION 47 of many individuals, is all but impossible, for it must needs be a story of the acts of men and women, labor- ing together with God, for the extension of His most blessed and glorious kingdom among men. In order to make this necessarily brief outline as complete as possible, I must go back of the date of the organization of this church, to within five years of the settlement of Warsaw, namely, the year 1808, which year was the "Bethlehem" of Congregationalism in Warsaw, while the year 1840 was its "Nazareth". July 14, 1808 "The First Congregational Church of Warsaw" was organized with ten members, and thus as a denomination we go back to the beginning of church organization in this region, for this was the first church organized upon the Holland Purchase. Five years later this " little flock in the wilderness " became incorporated under the name of the " Warsaw Union Society " and continued so for nearly two decades, " walking in the fear of the Lord." In the early days of our history a union church was not an unusual thing. Presbyterian- ism and Congregationalism have ever sustained intimate relations with each other; with slight modifications their confessions of faith have been similar. In the main, their differences have been those of polity, rather than doctrine. The Congregationalists were early in New England, and at the beginning of the last century were a numerous body. The Presbyterians were occupying the eastern portions of New York and Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. In those early days it was thought that generations would come and go before Western New York would be other than missionary territory, and for the most successful prosecution of missionary work therein, the Presbyterians and Congregationalists entered into a " plan of union " in 1801. The plan was wise, unselfish, eminently christian, and continued for more than fifty years. During this period, however, the Congregational- ists lost many churches by the process of absorption. There was nothing uncommon in the condition of things in the pioneer church in Warsaw; it simply went the way of many others, that were originally Congregational, and in 1829 became wholly identified with the Presbyte- 48 HISTOBY OF THE rians, and. it might have continued, as one body to this day, had not two causes arisen to divide the membership. The chief one was the doctrinal controversy between tliose known as the old and the new school men. It was a controversial age, the spirit of argument was in the air, but this controversy did not array Presbyterians and Con- gregationalists against each other, it affected members of both denominations, so that Presbyterians and Congrega- tionalists were disputing with Congregationalists and Pres- byterians. The other cause was one of inheritance A considerable number of the members were descendaats of New England Congregationalists, and it was not unnatu- ral that they should prefer the polity of their fathers, so the time came when thirty-nine of the members be- lieving that the best way to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace " was in separation, made requests for dismissal with the view of organizing another church, which organization was effected February 16, 1840, in a small building used as a school room, then standing over the old mill race on the south side of Buffalo Street, a little west of the present Post Office block. At the meeting for organization the Rev. Samuel Gris- wold of Perry Center was chosen moderator, and thirty- four persons constituted the new church, as follows : Joshua H. Darling, Peter Young, Ferdinand CD. McKay, William F. "Woodward, Isaac C. Bronson, Levi L. Martin, Henry "Woodward, "Willard Chapin, Robert Barnett, Lewis E. "Walker, Robert Chapin, Arthur Kinney, Mrs. Abigail "Walker, Mrs. L. Adelia Young, Mrs. Charlotte "Woodward, Mrs. Lucretia Darling, Miss Adeline Sheldon, Miss Caroline C. Sheldon, Mrs. Lucia Darling, Mrs. Anna "Woodward, Miss Roxie Rice, Miss Charlotte "Woodward, Miss Marie "Woodward, Miss Calista Bronson, Miss Mary Walker, Miss Rebecca Chapin, Mrs. Anna Kinney, Mrs. Polly Luce, Mrs. Margaret Fiero, Mrs. Charlotte T. Sheldon; of these, many "are fallen asleep". In fact, but two are now living; Deacon L. E. Walker and Mrs. Mary Walker Cowgill. The first pastor was the Rev. Huntington Lyman, who became a nonagenarian. The first Deacons were Ezra Walker (one of the origi- nal members of the church organized in 1808) and Peter WAESAW CENTENNIAL CELEBBATION 49 Young. These two men, one as superintendent, the other as clerk, organized the first Sunday School in "War- saw, in June, 1817, in a log school house, two miles west of the village. In 1819 it was transferred to the village and connected with the church. This Sunday School, at the time of the separation, came out with the new church, and therefore, the Sunday School connected with the Congregational Church of Warsaw today is the first Sunday School established in Warsaw. Asa Mahan, the first president of Oberlin College was a pupil in this Simday School. Following the New England custom, a society was organized in connection with the church, April 21, 1840, of which J. H. Darling, Henry Woodward and Charles J. Judd were the first trustees, and Mr. Judd the first clerk. The name adopted by the new church was simply "The Church of Warsaw", but four years later it assum- ed the name "Congregational"; with slight modifications the creed of the Chenango Presbytery of 1833 was adopt- ed. An examination of this creed reveals the fact that the present confession of faith, and covenant of the church, differ but slightly from it in matters of doctrine; although in 1858, under the supervision of the Bev. E. E. Williams, a revision was made for the purpose of giving it better and happier expression. For about three years the church was associated with the Genesee County Societies, then for a few years it was unassociated, but since the first ten years it has been regularly associated with Congregational bodies. The first ten years was a period of self-sacrificing toil, amid much opposition, but it would seem that the Lord's "Fear not little flock" was ever a source of strength /or, and courage in duty, resulting in increased membership and material prosperity.* For a few months the little church worshipped in the small building, in which it was organized; but early in the spring of 1840, the lot now occupied was purchased; a bee was made to remove the tall poplar trees, that had stood for years as stately sentinels, guarding the spot. "Arise and Build" was the next admonition heeded, 50 HISTOKT OF THE and soon the lecture room of the new building was ready for occupancy; it was used as a place of worship while as yet unplastered. The dimensions of the new building were 36 by 45 feet, and its cost, including the lot, a little less than three thousand dollars. It was finished within a year from the organization of the church, being dedi- cated January 13, 1841, the Eev. Mr. Ward of Bergen, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The old church build- ing, now known as "The Bee Hive," stands on East Buffalo Street, just east of the Town Hall, and the lecture room has been transformed into a dwelling house, located on Targo Street. During the first ten years the church had five pastors, and at least one temporary supply. Early in its life the church took on the various forms of church activity, a prayer meeting being established at once, and a Sunday School as already stated, in 1819; later an Aid Society, and a Mothers' Meeting came into existence. The Sun- day School met at 9 a. m., worship and preaching at 10 :30 a. m., an intermission of two hours, which was fol- lowed by another sermon, and still another sermon at 7:30 in the evening. The pastors during the first decade were Eev. Hunt- ington Lyman, Rev. L. P. Judson. Rev. R. H. Conklin, Rev. P. H. Myers, Rev. Corbin Kidder, and the Rev. M. T. Yeomans a temporary supply. Of these none are liv- ing today. The Eev. Zachary Eddy becoming pastor September 15, 1850, continued as such for five years. He found a church of one hundred members, and during his pastorate the membership doubled, and the house of worship was twice enlarged. In 1850 the first pipe organ was obtained and the church life was strong and vigorous. Dr. Eddy was succeeded by the Rev. T. S. Reeves and the Rev. James Vincent, each remaining but a few months. Then followed one of those remarkable experiences common to many churches. The year 1857 may be known as the "year of candidat- ing;" during that year eighteen different ministers occu- pied the pulpit on thirty-six Sabbaths, Mr. L. A. Hayward r^fid sermons on thirteen Sabbaths, Mr. E. E. Farman on WABSAW CENTENlSriAL CELEBBATION 51 two Sabbaths and Mr. Beth M. Gates on one Sabbath. This severe "testing" time proved to be but the fore- runner of the blessed and fruitful pastorate of the Bev. E. E. Williams, which began in December 1857 and closed in November 1872, and which has the distinguished honor of being the longest in the history of the church, results ing in much spiritual growth, increased membership, and marked material advancement; it was during this period that the present commodious house of worship was erected. For many years the forms and hours of worship re- mained the same, but in 1869 the afternoon service was abandoned, and the Sunday School met at noon; from that time the hours of service have remained as at present, the form of worship undergoing slight changes from time to time. The spirit of individual responsibility and of personal work was not lacking, for we find by the report of 1861 that Mr. Woodward conducted a Sunday School near Mr. Asher Kinney's, Mr. Moses Osgood one at South Warsaw and Mr. A. B. Lawrence, one at Halls Corners. This report of 1861 was not an isolated one, for many others were like unto it, for in later years Mr. W. A. Walker organized and for many years superintended a Sunday School at Saltvale. Many fruitful revivals occurred in the experience of the church; the most notable ones are as follows: Under Mr. Eddy, assisted by Dr. Heacock in 1852, 43 additions; un- der Mr. Eddy in 1854, forty additions ; under Mr. Williams in 1865, sixty-three were added, and under Mr. Williams in 1866, sixty-one were added; under Mr. Williams in 1870, forty-one were added; under Mr. Pierce in 1886, thirty- six were added, and at the close of the pastorate of Mr. Hobbs, in the union revival, conducted by the Bev. E. E. Davidson, forty-four were added. The church from its beginning took radical ground upon the question of slavery; in 1851 a declaration was made upon the subject, condemning in the most emphatic lan- guage, not only slavery itself, but every form of alliance with it. Thirty-three men went out from the Congrega- tion to defend the Union, many of whom never returned. The funeral of the brave and gifted Asa B. Merrill 52 HISTOEY OF THE was the first soldier's funeral in the village, and was held in this church. After the war several teachers went from here to the South, laboring under the American Missionary Association; among them was Miss Mary S. Williams, who afterwards became a missionary under the American Board, going out in 1871. Most of the fathers are now in the •' Church Triumph- ant," a few only are waiting for the summons " Come Home." Of these men of God we mention the follow- ing: Ezra "Walker, Peter Young, Stephen Hurd, Isaac V. Matthews, Charles J. Judd, Joshua H. Darling, Hanover Bradley, Horace Thayer, Eli Merrill, Seth M. Gates. Among the family names that re-call the earliest days of the church are Woodward, McKay, Fargo, Merrill, Pierson, Humphrey, Martin, Sheldon, Bronson, Walker. Time will not permit me to speak of all the men and women worthy of mention in this sketch, still, it is es- pecially interesting to recall the names of some of those who having served their own generation, by the will of God, are now "fallen asleep:" Deacon Ezra Walker, with bent form, and whitened hair when the church was formed, the faithful, devoted, loving. Deacon Young; J. H. Darling, tall, erect, faithful, wise, unassuming, generous, "A doer of the word and not a hearer only;" Deacon Judd, slender, dark-haired, learned, a teacher, and influential with the young ; Seth M. Gates, of strong convictions, courageous, cultured; Hanover Bradley, quiet, methodical, persevering; L. A. Hayward, a wise counselor, zealous, faithful; Mavor Martin, L. L. Martin, Jeremiah Lamberson, Elisha S. Hillman, B. P. Pargo, and many others, all "fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord." Lester Hayden Humphrey, en- ergetic, punctual, eflBcient, a leader, and always diligent in the business of the church; Simeon D. Lewis, (whose recent death is greatly mourned by the church) capable, careful, conservative, a wise and safe counselor, an up- right man. In connection with the Society the name of Mr. Wolcott J. Humphrey is perhaps the most prominent; a man un- ostentatious, straight-forward, frank, generous, genial, cour- ageous, companionable, a Ipyej of truth, and righteousness, a WARSAW CEiJTENOTAt CELfiBEATION 53 man whose daily answered prayer seemed to be: "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, Oh Lord." It was owing to the wise counsel, untiring labor, and generous gifts of J. H. Darling, Seth M. Gates and "Wol- cott J. Humphrey that the present house of worship was begun in 1866 and completed in 1867, '■ the people also having a mind to work." The pipe organ was the gift of Mr. Darling. In 1886, during the pastorate of the Rev. A. P. Pierce, a lot was procured, and upon it was built an attractive and commodious parsonage, costing about four thousand dollars. The church was re-modeled in 1891, during the pastorate of Eev. W. A. Hobbs, when the seats were arranged as at present; but it remained for this Centennial year to add the chancel, repair and enlarge the organ, and bring it from where it had remained for nearly four decades to its present place, thus greatly im- proving the appearance of the auditorium. The church has always believed in, and encouraged ed- ucation, and can justly boast of a long list of college graduates from among its members, past and present. Of its members, George W. Walker, J. L. Barlow, J. A. McKay, Levi Spencer, and John M. Merrill have become ministers of the gospel ; E. E. Parman has received the hon- orary degree of LL. D. and has honorably filled several important Government positions ; Merrill B. Gates has become a P. H. D., an LL. D., an L. H. D., a college president and is at present Secretary United States Board of Indian Commissioners. L. H. Humphrey became a member of the Senate of the State of New York ; W. H. Merrill is a gifted and distinguished editor. Chas. D. Seely is a professor in the State Normal School at Brockport, N. T. I know not how many teachers, law- yers, editors, physicians and honorable men of affairs this church has furnished the world, and to-day we are proud of our young men and women who are away at school, and are soon to fill responsible positions with credit to themselves and the church. The church has had thirteen pastors, besides four temporary supplies. Since the close of the pastorate of E. E. Williams in 1872, the pastors have been H. P. Dud- ley, A. P. Pierce, W. A. Hobbs and H. E. Gurney, Mr. Dudley is the only pastor who died while here. 54 HISTORY OF THE There have been thirty-six deacons, eighteen of whom are still living- The present Board of Deacons is com- posed of the following; L. E. Walker, chairman; A. B. Bishop, W. E. Bathrick, Martin Hunger, George Z. Goodale, George M. Lawrence, S. W. Lamberson, Horace L. Martin. The Sunday School has had nine superin- tendents; P. C. D. McKay, C. J. Judd, L. A. Hayward, S. M. Gates, S. D. Lewis, L. H. Humphrey, W. A. Walker, W. K. Bathrick, M. B. Hale. The present Board of Trustees is composed of the following; E. E. Farman, chairman; A. P. Gage, H. R. Bristol. W. J. Humphrey, E. E. Eowe, the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. S. D. Lewis being still unfilled. Mr. Cornelius Bradley has been the eflftcient and painstaking clerk for more than twenty-seven years; Mr. Charles Cuthbert has been its sexton for more than a generation, having served in that capacity for thirty-four consecutive years. It is with commendable pride we speak of one of our members, the Rev. D. Z. Sheffield, one of the most valua- ble, learned, diplomatic and consecrated missionaries of the American Board. Mr. Sheffield for a number of years has been connected with missionary and educational work in China. What shall I say of the women "who labored in the Gospel, whose names are in the Book of Life ? " The family names already mentioned suggest "not a few Honorable Women," prayerful, patient, persevering, faithful, and full of faith, "Kings daughters" in very truth, to whom much of the success of the early work of the church is due. Among the many of later times "Holy women also, who trusted in God." and who are now "In the presence of His glory," I may mention Mrs. L. A. Hayward, Mrs. A. P. Gage, Mrs. John Matthews, Mrs. S. B. Humphrey, Mrs. E. C. Shattuck, Mrs. Lester Hayden Humphrey, Mrs. Chauncey C. Gates, Mrs. W. A. Walker. It may be said of this church in all its history, past and present, "The Lord giveth the word, the women that publish it are a great host." During the existence of the church, upwards of twelve hundred have been received into membership. Who can WABSAW CENTEimiAL CELEBRATION 55 measure the influence of these lives. It will only be known when "The books are opened." Four hundred and fifty names are at present upon the roll. " And what I shall more say, for the time will fail me to tell of those who through faith wrought righteousness, obtained promises, from weakness were made strong." I close this historical sketch of the Congregational Church of "Warsaw, knowing that he whose privilege it may be to make a similar one at the time of the celebra- tion of Warsaw's Bi-centennial, will so prepare it, that all who hear it, and all who read it, will bear the same testimony, that was given at the [nineteenth anniversary in 1859, at the twenty-fifth anniversary in 1865, at the fiftieth anniversary in 1890, and given upon the present occasion, namely, "Glorious things of thee are spoken," and " One generation shall praise thy works to another." And may " Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Amen. PlRSt BAPTIST CHURCH History Written by Rev. A. S. Cole. Read Dy Rev. E. G. Gilbert, June 28, 1903 The First Baptist Church of Warsaw, as it is now called, was organized Nov. 25, 1810, by Elder David Irish, a pastor in Cayuga County, while on one of his preach- ing tours. It consisted of the following eighteen (another authority says fourteen) members: Joseph Porter and wife, Josiah Boardman and wife and daughter, Noah Wiseman, John Truesdell, Levi Stearns, Hannah Stearns, John Brown, William Brown, Miriam Brown, Levi Eice, Hannah Bice, Jeremiah Truesdell, Elijah Hammond, Rhoda Beed and Joanna Beardsley. Middle- bury being then a part of Warsaw, and a Baptist church having been formed there, this church was first known, though only for a few years, as the second Baptist Church of Warsaw. Joseph Porter was the first deacon, chosen in April, 1811, and Jeremiah Irons the first pastor en- gaged in the autumn of 1811. The church was born in a revival. During the first few months of its history, at least twenty-eight were baptized, so that at the end of its first year the church numbered forty-nine members. In 1828 the church was incorporated under the name of the "Baptist Church and Society ,in Warsaw." The meeting for incorporation was held June 9, 1828, and the certificate was filed in the office of the county clerk at Batavia on July 1, 1828, The first trustees, elected at the meeting for incorporation, were David Fargo, Samuel Salisbury and Seth Higgins. The church joined the Holland Purchase Association in 1812, when its name appears in the first published minutes of that organization. In that year it reported forty-four members, and Joseph Porter was the delegate. The next year three delegates are mentioned, Elders William Pattison and Jabez Boomer, and Elijah Ham- mond. Other delegates whose names are recorded in 57 these early yeairs are William Wiseman, Nehemiah Fargo, Aaron Lyon, David Fargo, Shubel Reynolds, and Jonathan F. Hibbard. Other prominent names, found in the early minutes of the church, are Samuel Salisbury, John Truesdell, Sylvanus Hawley, Seth Higgins. and John Windsor, the last being elected treasurer of the Church and Society 1833. In 1827 the church withdrew from the Holland Purchase Association, and the next year joined the Genesee Association, with which it is still connected. On September 15, 1827, the following members were dis- missed to form a Baptist church in Gainesville: William Wiseman, William Devoe, Noah Wiseman, Dennis Wise- man, Warren Thorp, William Pattison, Susan Parker, Lydia Thorp, Lucy Pattison, Sally Pattison, Polly Wiseman, Ann Stocker, Thankful Page, Sally Ann Wright, Susanna Barber, Sally Stocking, Mary Ann Wiseman, Sally Hunger. This church was recognized on October 6, 1827, but has since become extinct. An interesting item in regard to the pastor's salary is found in the church minutes under date of January 19, 1828, and reads as follows: "Voted to give Elder Bernard a call to preach with us two-thirds of the time for one year to commence next May, 1828, and to give him for his services-, two hundred dollars and find his firewood. It was a unanimous vote." At first the church met for worship in barns and school houses, John Truesdell's bam being a frequent and favorite place of meeting. A Union Society had been organized, and in 1817 "A house of worship was erected in the village, principally by the joint efforts of the Baptists and Presbyterians. It was only inclos- ed, however, and could be occupied only in the sum- mer season. In March, 1819, the Baptists sold out their interest to the Presbyterians, by whom it was finished in the spring of 1821." (Young's -History of Warsaw). In 1828, while Elder David Bernard was pastor, the Baptist church erected its first meeting house on what is now the west side of the cemetery. This was used until 1842, when it was sold, torn down, and built over again into a dwelling house, which still stands on North Main Street near the Methodist church. In 1842 the second house of 58 SlSTOBY OF THE worship was erected in the village on the site of the pres- ent church building. This was extensively repaired in 1880 at a cost of nearly $1,400, and was re-dedicated on December 30th of that year. In 1889 the building was sold and removed and the present beautiful brick struc- ture erected on the same site at a cost of $13,675, in- cluding furnishings. The corner stone was laid on July 16, 1889, and the service of dedication was held on Feb- ruary 26, 1890. It may here be added that in 1873 the parsonage on Grove street was purchased. The church was not without its serious problems in the early years of its history. One of these is seen in the following question addressed by the church to the Hol- land Purchase Association at its meeting in Middlebury in 1823: "Suppose a brother declare his belief in uni- versal salvation or restoration; what course shall the church take with him? Shall he be excluded, and what shall his crime be called?" And this is the answer of the Association: "They shall choose a commttee of well informed brethren to labor with him. Should he not be gained, he must be excluded for embracing heresy or false doctrine." Equal suffrage was another question of some import- ance in the early history. The minutes of January 1, 1830, contain this record: "The case of the sisters voting in the church decided unanimously. See paper on file. Sisters no authority, no right to vote, but should be called on after the brethren." The church seems soon to have been ashamed of this resolution, for in the min- utes of April 3, 1830, we read: "Resolved to destroy a decision of the church left on file in relation to the sisters voting." And the question was finally settled on October 23, 1830, under which date this record appears: "The subject of respecting sisters voting was brought forward and resolved that each member enjoy their privilege." This ungrammatical sentence is the Magna Charta of the women of Warsaw Baptist Church, the only guarantee so far as the official records show, of their right to vote in church meeting. The attitude of the church on the slavery question may be judged from the fact that a record states that WAESAW CENTfiNNlAti CELEBEATION 59 on April 22, 1854. an offering was made to aid fugitive slaves. The church thus owned some shares in the "un- der-ground railroad. " But by far the most serious question which agitated the church in the early years of its histroy was that concerning secret societies, and this was a problem com- mon to all churches at that time. In 1827 the church passed a resolution against Free Masonry and made it one of the Articles of Faith. In the same year it with- drew from the Holland Purchase Association because that body did not take a radical attitude on the question of secret societies. From time to time the problem re-ap- peared, and was finally settled by the following resolu- tions passed on September 19, 1859: "In view of the troubles that have agitated this church for the past few months in regard to the matter of her mem- bers being connected with secret societies, we feel where so great a variety of opinion prevails (and which in the exercise of Christian charity we are bound to believe conscientious on all sides), that it is not best for us as a church to express any opinion in this matter either sanctioning or condemning those who are now already connected with such societies, but to leave them free to act as their own consciences shall dictate to be for the best interests of Zion. But as it must be con- ceded by all that this is a very fertile source of trouble and discussion, in this light we kindly advise those who are now connected with such societies to withdraw from them, or at least if they do continue to hold their connection, to endeavor that it shall be in such a man- ner that it shall not offend those who think differently; and we feel called upon to say very emphatically to all who are now disconnected that we think it is their duty not to entangle themselves with any such alliance, and also to advise all parties to very carefully avoid all dis- cussion upon, or tending to lead to this subject, so that peace maybe restored to the church." These resolutions^ though not as liberal as the Christian sentiment of the present time when the controversy is a thing of the past, are, nevertheless, wonderfully broad in spirit when we con- sider how high the feeling ran and how acute the dis- cussion was. This church thus practically settled the 60 SISTOSy OF Tttfi matter long before many other churches were out of the controversy, and individual prejudice gradually disap- peared in succeding years. Beginning with eighteen members in 1810, the church increased in numbers with great regularity until in 1843 it had 219 members, having at that time, it is claimed, the largest membership of any church in Warsaw. It then began to decrease steadily in numbers, the tide being occasionally turned for a year or so by a revival, until in 1868 there were only 89 members. Since that time there has been an almost uninterrupted growth, the membership reaching the highest point in 1900, when there were 301 members on the chuich roll. The records show that considerably over 700 persons have been re- ceived into the church by profession of faith and bap- tism. Including those who have joined by letter or otherwise, about 1500 persons in all have been received into the membership of the church during its history. There have been special seasons of revivals in the years 1810-11, 1820, 1831, 1842-43, 1863, 1857-58, 1870, 1876, 1887-88, and 1899. It is interesting to note that these times of spiritual activity and power have occurred on an average once in ten years. The church has always been especially interested in missionary work. So far as its records show, and they are by no means complete, over $7,200, have been given for missions and other objects of benevolence. There is a record of a missionary meeting on October 24, 1833, at which a native Burman was present and an address was given by one who was about to start for Burmah as a missionary. The record concludes as follows : "At the close a collection was taken in which was contributed between 16 and 17 dollars besides some shalls [" shawls" probably meant], riags, etc., which [were] given to Eld. Dean to help bear him away to the Burman Empire as an ambassador of Christ." This church has also sent some of its own number to the mission field. Mrs. Juliet Pattison Binney, daughter of Rev. William Pattison, one of the pastors of the church, and wife of Rev. Joseph Getchell Binney, D. D., was for many years a missionary in Burmah. Dr. Binney organized the educational WAESAW CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 61 work for the Karens, and was at the head of a school in Maulmain, afterwards removed to Rangoon, Burmah. More than three hundred Karen ministers were educated by him, and he also did much work in translating and publishing books in the Karen language. In all this work as missionary, teacher and translator, Dr. Binney was ably assisted by his faithful wife. Dr. Binney died on November 26, 1877, on his return voyage to Burmah after a short visit to this country for his health and was buried in the Indian Ocean. Mrs. Binney died on May 18, 1884, at Rangoon, Burmah. Another mem- ber of the church who became a missionary was Mrs. Sarah Griffith Mosier. She left Warsaw for India in October, 1890, and on December 8th of that year was married to Rev. L. H. Mosier of Mandelay, Burmah. Her work was cut short by her death in Burmah on June 26, 1891. Turning to other lines of service, this church hag Sent out two college presidents. Rev. Robert E. Patti- son, D. D., was baptized into the membership of the church when a young man. He studied at Amherst College, and stood second in a class of forty. As pas- tor, professor and college president, he attained a position of great prominence in the Baptist denomination. He was the author of a "Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians," He died in 1874 at the residence of his eldest son, in St. Louis. The Hon. James R. Doolittle, LL. D., was for a number of years a mem- ber of this church, which he joined by baptism. In 1851, he removed to Racine, Wisconsin, and later served for two terms as United States senator from that state. He was for a succession of years a professor in the law school, and for one year president of the old University of Chicago. In its ninety-three years of existence, the church has had thirty-five pastors, whose names are as follows: Jeremiah Irons, David Hurlburt, Jabez Boomer, William Pattison, Leonard Anson, Anson Tuthill, David Bernard, Peter Freeman, Abraham Ennis, G. V. Walling, Joseph Elliott, B. Wilcox, Hiram K. Stimson, Judah L. Richmond, A. C. Barren, Hogarth Leavenworth, W. C. Hubbard, Philander Shedd, Howell Smith, William Cormac, J. B. 62 HISTOBY OF THE Pitman, Samuel Hough, Wheeler I. Crane, Abner Morrill, Alphonso C. Williams, Cyrus M. Booth, B. H. Damon, Jirah B. Ewell, Francis Sherer, James J. Townsend, Henry H. Emmett, Otis A. Dike, Oscar B. McKay, Arthur S. Cole, Ellis Gilbert. Of these pastors it is interesting to note that Elders Jabez Boomer and William Pattison were among _ the early settlers in War- saw or its vicinity. The former was here ordained to the gospel ministry on August 29th, 1816. Elder H. K. Stimson served the church twice as pastor. The average length of pastorate has been about two years and three months. The longest pastorate was that of Rev. O. R. McKay, who served the church six years and five months. The church has had twenty-five deacons, whose names, in the order of their election to office, are as follows: Joseph Porter, Elijah Hammond, William Wiseman, Jona- than P. Hibbard, Samuel Salisbury, Abial Lathrop, David Fargo, Broughton W. Crane, John Starks, Samuel L. Keeney, Simeon Holton, Calvin T. Bryant, Jacob J. Brin- instool, Lucius Austin, Dorson C. Bentley, Austin Lane, Charles Cheney, Benjamin Roberts, Andrew J. Sayer, George W. Bradley, Fred A. Merchant, Samuel J. Munger, Frank H. Roberts, George W. Perrine, Hezekiah S. Fargo. Allen Fargo was two or three times elected deacon by the church, but declined to serve. Five of the deacons served the church for more than twenty years, as follows : Brough- ton W. Crane, 43 years, from 1834 to 1877; Calvin T. Bryant, 33 years, from 1869- to 1902; Simeon Holton, 27 years and 7 months, from 1857 to 1885; Jonathan F. Hib- bard, 25 years and 3 months, from 1827 to 1853 ; and Samuel Salisbury, about 30 years as nearly as can be ascer- tained, though divided into two terms of service. Next in length of service come J. J. Brininstool, who held office 18 years and 3 months, and the present senior deacon of the church, Andrew J. Sayer, the eighteenth anniversary of whose election to the office of deacon comes on Octo- ber 3d of the present year, 1903. This history has been compiled principally from the following sources: Church minutes from 1827 to 1834, and from 1847 to 1903. Certificate of Incorporation. WABSAW CENTENNIAL CELEBBATION 63 Minutes of Holland Purchase Association from 1812 to 1827. Minutes of Genesee Association from 1828 to 1902. History of the church by Eev. Abner Morrill, in minutes of Genesee Baptist Association for 1867. History of Warsaw, by A. W. Young. The Baptist Encyclopedia, edited by "William Cathcart, D. D. EPISCOPAL CHURCH Sermon Dy Rev. H. S. Qatley, Sunday, June 28, 1903 Epliedans Z;19, SO, SI: "Now tlierefore ye