ih. « « « 1797 — 1$97 « « « ^''^=^ENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN (THE OLD WHITE) CHURCH BUILDING, * SALEM, WASHINGTON COUNTY, N. Y., « NOVEHBER 9th, 1897 * ILLUSTRATED. PRINTED BY T. A. Wright, New Vork. ^able of Contents. PAGE Preface 5 Sermon. By Rev. David Craig Stewart, 9 Invocation, 23 Remarks. By the Chairman, 24 Historical Sketch, 27 Remarks. By the Chairman, 35 List of Worshipers 37 Roll of Members 43 Scraps Saved from Scattering, 49 Lines Written for the Occasion 53 The Present. By Rev. Dr. Turnbull, 55 Glimpse at the Future. By Rev. Mr. McEachron, . . .58 Address. By Rev. Dr. E. P. Sprague 61 Greeting from Albany Presbytery. By Rev. Mr. Williamson, . 64 Addresses by : Rev. G. C. Morehouse, 65 Rev. A. W. Morris 66 Mr. Skellie 67 Reminiscences. By Rev. James C. Forsyth, D.D., . . . .71 Extract from Letters : Rev. Wm. A. Mackenzie, "]"] Wm. A. Mackenzie, Jr., 78 Letters from : Rev. Horace L. Singleton, D.D., 78 Rev. Dr. John D. Wells 79 Mr. Andrew H. Green, of New York, 80 Rev. Dr. Richard H. Steele 80 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Letters. {Continued.) page Rev. Dr. James B. Scouller, 8i Mrs. F. Halley Wiles 82 Mrs. Henrietta B. Halley, 83 Mrs. M. M. Farrington, 83 Rev. J. A. Reynolds, D.D 84 Rev. Wm. Johnson, D.D 85 Rev. John R. Fisher, D.D 85 Mrs. S. A. Fowler 86 Rev. Herbert C. Hinds, 87 Rev. Albert G. Todd, 88 Rev. Charles T. White, 88 Rev. James G. Robertson 88 Rev. T. W. Harwood, 90 Rev. Wm. H. Meeker, 91 Description of Relics, 93 miustrations. Frontispiece — Exterior of Church, Interior of Church, Old Meeting House, Portrait of Rev. Dr. Proudfit, Plan of Church, Photographic View of Parsonage, . Portrait of Rev. David Craig Stewart, Portrait of Rev. J .C. Forsyth, D.D., Portrait of Rev. Wm. A. Mackenzie, Portrait of Rev. Ebenezer Halley, D.D., Vignette of Tokens, PAGE Facing 4 26 34 36 48 54 60 70 76 82 91 Tl\ ^^*3SfeVv '-- :-"I-s.^a^..C-^^N ^': ; 1 *...> C. ^- - \) No ' '^. < -'- C I i 'I IS 5v^-. ^ 3 '? ^ • -A, V-- Ir.. I SJ . -V. 'V ^' -'- DIAGR =# .y r A- ?• if-^ X 1 > i ^ r 1 • i ■ i V: i V"-^ i I '-- ■<' 4- j , ■ 1 e^ from Scattering* Read by R. Gregory. It is striking how often the number seven — which has the reputation of standing for perfection — appears in our Church history. On the 27th day of August, 1867, the centennial of the congregation was celebrated. That was thirty years ago. For a self-evident reason the speaker was not present that day. It was before his day. But he has been told that valuable facts were then brought to light by Dr. Asa Fitch, well known in the scientiiic world. These facts were care- fully preserved by him, "Being dead, he yet speaketh" — speaketh in living words to us now, 1897; for hear how he ends his paper : "Long live the old White Church in Salem! And when the last of its present members shall lie beneath the sod, and our spirits have returned to God who gave them — when the deeds of this present time shall furnish the materials of history — may it be the lot of a future chronicler, upon scanning the materials which we shall leave . . . may it be his lot to record that we were worthy of the pre- cious heritage which it is our privilege to enjoy." I will not take to myself the title of "chronicler;" but, as a representative of the present generation, at the end of the nineteenth century, I will endeavor to catch a few echoes from the end of the eighteenth, and project them, so that the twentieth, when it comes, may carry on the refrain. « « « As a specimen of the quaint, hear the following entry : '''■Resolved^ That the keys of the Church be kept by James A. McFarland, Esq., and no person be permitted to 50 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION take the same without the authority of the trustees ; and also that the bell only be rung by Alvah Wright for the purpose of divine worship and at funerals ; and the gates be not opened for any other purposes except for the accommodation of some member of the congregation who has an interest in the Church, as pew-holder or other- wise." And what do you think of this ? — "At a meeting, March, 1843, of the male members of the congregation, it was Besolxed, That the sexton be directed to keep order in the lobby during service on the Sabbath ; and, if unable to do so himself, to call on the trustees for assistance." We are not aware Avhether these officers ever had to be called upon or not. There was an occasion, by the way, on which a disturbance was created at the other end of the house of worship. This story is not recorded in the "minutes," however ; the oldest inhabitant vouches for it : Rev, Ebenezer Halley owned a dog named Capers : a little fat, black dog. The animal always accompanied him when he went to preach, and slept during the service. The pulpit was very high, and there was a long flight of steps leading down from the platform. Gapers slept too near the edge : he dreamed, he moved, he rolled from the top of the flight to the bottom ; how he must have howled ! What his master did is forgotten. Also whether the children laughed; they may to-night : this is not the Sab- bath nor a formal solemn meeting. « « « Salem's village, with its churches, has been remarkable from the beginning for its lavishness in sending forth its sons. The process began only a score and a half years from the time when the colony from Ballibay settled here. Gen. Walter Martin headed a band of young men with OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 51 their families and established himself and them at Martins- burgh, Lewis County, this State. Far and wide have others gone, in a continuous succession of departures, by twos and threes or singly. But in a wider field of inlliience they have made a wider mark for good than had they here remained. Merely as one example of the clerical element, we instance Rev. John Crawford from this vicinity, who for nearly forty years has been telling the good news of the Saviour in the ancient city of Damascus. The young men have always been called upon to take an active part in Church operations. For one reason, it was not until very lately that it was considered seemly for the women to speak in public. The former always used to respond. Listen to what was in the Church archives : At a meeting of the congregation, October, 1793: It .,^K. voted that all young men attending on iiublic ordi- nances shall pay one dollar per year. ' ' 1841. — '-'' Resohied, That Robert Stewart, Josephus Fitch, Robert McMurray, Wm. C. Boyd, be a committee to solicit from the young men of this congregation sub- scriptions for rej)airing the Church.'" These youths not only did their work as a committee, gathering all the money required, but they themselves sub- scribed sums ranging from one hundred dollars to five (only one of the last amount); most of them gave fifty and twenty- five dollars apiece. « « « To silence the pessimists among us who declare that the congregation is running down and dying out, we wish to observe that former trustee, Capt. James Thompson, who was in office for over twenty-five consecutive years, has furnished a list of eighty families of the old stock, still represented, who assemble in this sanctuary from was 52 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. week to week. The family name of these has not in every case been transmitted, but the same blood runs through their veins, the same spirit animates them. « « « It would be interesting to gather in all the items extant, regarding those who have gone out into the world, also those who are even now "serving their generation by the will of God," here and there — from New Hampshire to Florida, from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Will not some energetic person take the hint and make it his business to do this ? Then, if the septi-centennial ever should come to be observed, there will be abundant data from which to draw. tititi Hn Hppeal to f atber Uimc anD ifmaQinatton. By C. H. McFarland. Time! Father Time! Canst thou not hear? O lend to us thy listening ear — Give 7ts this hour. Open the windows to mem'ries old, Hold back the veil — let our eyes behold — Hast thou no power ? Thou wast here in the long, long ago — Eye-witness of that we would know — Plead we in vain? Show us those faces of Age and Youth, Early champions for God and Truth — Bring them again. Speak! long silent, unwritten years Voicing those grand old pioneers From Ballibay; Who kneeling prayed, while morning sun Witnessed to Heaven, a work begun To last for aye. Then shall their evening song of praise Reach us in echoing, joyful lays And glad acclaim. Here we will build — an altar lay Where we may worship God alway — "Praise ye His name." A century its debt hath paid. Of life and death, since first was laid Our Corner-stone. And children's children thrice have blessed A father's God and here confessed Him, God alone. 54 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Firm her foiindations, now as then, And strong her bulwarks are, as when Thus early made; Type of God's mercy, love and grace To sinful men, His blood bought race Whose debt he paid. So may it evermore remain Till He on earth shall come to reign, Peace to defend. And all the ransomed of the Lord Shall praise His name with one accord Time without end. As in His courts we waiting stand Beneath His consecrating hand Our vows we pay To Him who rules all earth and spheres, And unto whom a thousand years Are as one day. ''Zhe present/* By Rev. Mr. Turnbull. I think myself happy to be with yon this evening, and tliere are two good reasons why I should occui)y bnt little of your time: The first is, that the committee that so kindly invited me to say a word this evening suggested that I should occupy but little time ; and the second is, that the fitness of things indicates the time. I am to speak of ''The Present." The present, as compared with the past or as compared with the future, is very brief indeed. You know the past includes all time that has gone by, and the future includes all time that is to come ; while the present is that infinitesimally small point on which we now stand. Indeed, the present since I began to speak to you has slipped away into the past. So, in accordance with the fitness of things, what I have to say should be very brief. The text before us to-day and this evening has been this building in which we meet to-night. What I have to say refers to the present. I have lived more to-day with the congregation that meets in this building than with the building itself. I prefer to speak of the spirit rather than of the body. And yet, as I walked around Zion to-day, in accordance with the divine command, viewing the towers, there is one thing that impressed me, as I looked at this old building, and that was its excellent foundation ; and I thought that had very much to do with its having lasted a hundred years and towards its present good condition ; for we all know that, if it had been built upon a poor foundation, it would never have stood these tests of years. And, as I thought of this Church, with its present power and influence for good, and the influence for good which 56 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION it has been exerting in all these past years, and looked for the cause, I attributed it largely to that fact, that it was built uj)on a rock. It was well built, not only with reference to the foundation which was originally laid, but I concluded too, as I looked over this building this after- noon, that it had been well built in that the structure had been put together in such a way as to make it permanent. And so I thought with reference to this Church : there have been master builders here, men who have not built with hay, wood, and stubble, but those who have taken the Word of God and used it in such a way as to erect a structure here which shall last and which has exerted a mighty influence for good. When I was told that I was to speak of the present, I wondered why you had asked me to speak on that subject ; and one thing that came into my mind as a reason and sug- gested itself was, that it was possibly because I had been longer acquainted with your present pastor than any other of the members of the Argyle Presbytery, and that you, on this auspicious occasion, thought it not out of i)lace that I have a word to say with reference to the present out- look in this crisis ; and I congratulate you, my dear friends, on the union that has been formed this afternoon. I have known your pastor quite a number of years. I first met him in college, and have been acquainted with him all these intervening years ; and, as one who knows him, I congratulate you that you have brought into the Argyle Presbytery one who we feel will be a help to us all, and especially a great helper to the Church of Salem. Your present outlook is certainly auspicious. Everything that relates to your jDresent that comes up to my mind to-night is of such a character as to lead us to look out into the future. I don't want to trespass on what my brother prophet, McBachron, has to say, but I cannot help but feel that the outlook is very encouraging. One thing that came to my mind this afternoon, with OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 57 reference to the present, is that there is a great deal of, for lack of a better word, I will say grit in this congre- gation. They have certainly a great deal of moral courage when so goodly a number have come out to the session this afternoon in the midst of the driving storm. I think that spoke volumes for this people. And then, too, I know that you are a people not easily dissuaded from the house of God. All these things speak well for you. Then, with reference to the pleasant associations. You had to-day the assistance and help of your neighboring churches ; and I thought, this afternoon, as we partook of the bountiful meal which you provided, that it spoke much for the spirit of unity that pervades the churches in this village. It was not always thus. I do not speak with reference to Salem, but in many places you know it was not always thus. How often it has been that there have been contro- versies between the different congregations. It is pleasant for our brother to come into a place where the brethren in the churches dwell together in unity. Just let me, in closing, say this : My dear friends, you have to do with the present. And as your history is to be written, and we trust it will be in bright letters, for the next hundred years, let me say that it will be what you make it now. Do not forget that you are not to rely upon the future ; you are to do your work well now. Did you ever notice that the Master s commands are given in the present, and that He makes His promises to those who do their work well now ? Let us then realize that, if we are to live near God in our day and generation and leave such a record behind us that it will be helpful to others, it can only be done by doing our work well now. And God grant to this people, to all of us gathered here this evening, that we may do the work that is given us in such a way that it may be ours with all those who have gone forth from this house to meet with Him and spend eternity in the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. '*a 6limp6c of tbc jfuturc/' By Rev. W. S. McEachron. Mr. Chairman : Last Saturday evening, unlike one of the prophets of old, I was not ploughing with oxen, but I was digging in the Word, when the message came to me that I was wanted at the telephone. I made haste to the telephone, and a voice came, I don' t know from where — it sounded like a voice from another world — "Will you speak of the 'Future of the "White Church." on next Tuesday evening sometime?" And, fool that I was, I immediately said, "Yes, I will." A person gets so accus- tomed to responding to every call, and especially as, unlike our chairman, I am the son of a deacon, and there- fore, when summoned to prophesy, I supposed that the inspiration would be given, and, if I was called to foretell the future, it would be revealed to me. Well, now, I have been seeking visions and revelations ever since, and they did not come until, this evening, I thought surely something would be revealed to me in regard to the future of the "White Church." If all that Dr. Turnbull said about you is true — and perhaps there is room for argument there — if all that he said about you in the present is true, then it would not be so difficult to tell what your future may be. Now, unlike Dr. Turnbull, I will have to speak a long time. All the speakers to-night have intimated that you are going to be here another century. If 1 have to foretell the future, then I am likely to speak for a hundred years, because we can only tell the days as they come. The future of the "White Church." We use this word "church" in a great many senses nowadays. So far as I CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 59 can find — and I hope, if I am wrong, some of these D. D.'s will correct me — the Bible doesn' t use the word ' ' church ' ' in a single instance as applying to the building. We have the word in the New Testament as including the whole body of Christian believers, all who were Christ's; and we have it also with reference to particular congregations, like the Church at Corinth : but I do not think we have the word used with reference to the building itself, called the house of God, the meeting-place of God with His people. Now, if I were to sx)eak of the future of the Church in the sense of the body of Christian believers themselves, to whom the Word of God is committed, and who are to hold that Word forth, then I would say that this Church will be in the future, what it has been in the past — a guide and a light to men. The outlook from some standpoints is dark, but yet we are not lacking in a sense of hope. Everywhere, on the religious horizon, the coming of the saints of our country, the deep religious instincts of the human heart, the splendid past victories of the Church, and, above all, the divine promise that the gates of hell shall not i)revail against her, forbid our forecasting a dark or gloomy outlook. The world has proclaimed the death of the Church over and over again ; again and again the seal has been fixed and the watch has been placed at her supposed grave. But again and again the Church has come forth in the power of her resurrection of life, to make new conquests in the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. No merely natural force can hurt her spirit, no heresies, however cancerous, will ever eat away all her creed, and no attacks of skepticism will ever overthrow her power. The Church of the future has the same foundation-rock as the Church of the past — Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. But perhaps I am expected to speak of the building. It is a centennial building. The human mind naturally is interested in places, not so much for their own sake as for 6o CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION the sake of associations connected with them. All reli- gions have their sacred places. The Jew cannot forget Jerusalem ; the Mohammedan venerates the holy Mecca ; and every true child of God holds sacred the place where he has met with his Christian brethren to worship the common Father, to express his love and devotion to the common Saviour, We love the house of God, It has been to us the gate of heaven. This man and that man are able to say, "Here was I born." A day in God's house is better than a thousand. Thus the Church stands as a wit- ness ; I believe that this Church stands as a witness ; and I am in the building as a witness to the presence of Almighty God in this community. It is here God has promised to meet with His people. Here has been the meeting-place of hearts with God, And, as a witness of the presence of God in this community, the piety of the Church will be evidenced by their care of God's house; and, so far as I can see, if you take care of this house, it may stand another hundred years. You all know that if you go through a community and see the church running down, the shingles loose, the clapboards flapping, the window-panes out, the paint coming off, you need no one to tell you that religion is at a low ebb in that community; you know very well that the will of the Lord is not being done by many people there. But where God's people have that regard for the place of meeting that they care for it, it is one of the best evidences of their piety. And so I simply say that I believe that, whether we speak of you as a congregation of people, or the house, the meeting-place with God, there is a bright future before you, with splendid prospects and glorious hopes, God, in His providence, has removed from you one who so long held forth the truth ; but God, in His kind provi- dence, has brought to you another, under whom, sup- ported and sustained with unfaltering loyalty and faithful devotion, you will preserve the best traditions of this work REV. DAVID CRAIG STEWART Installed 1897 OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 6l of the Church ; you will broaden and deepen its beneficent spirit; you will make it even more than ever before the place of nourishment and refreshment for the struggling, toiling, weary souls — a place of discipline and inspiration for all the strong and courageous and hopeful souls that come beneath its roof ; and, until you cease to be, you will love this place. Forgetting, then, the things which are behind, press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, for from it are the best things and grandest things. The glorious hope of the Church is beyond in the future. Bright is that future. And may we rise, and all of the people of God, to the blessed privileges and responsibilities Just now before us. « « « « Address by Rev. Dr. E. P. Sprague. Gentlemen, Christian Friends, and Neighbors: The younger sister, the " Brick Church," sends her greetings and congratulations to-night to her elder sister, the "White Church." And sisters, as they are, in the Presbyterian faith, we are not dissatisfied that one says the other is the elder, for we are not ashamed of years to-night, but rather glory in them. I say the younger sister. It is emphati- cally true, if we refer, as we do so largely to-night, to Church buildings. It comes very close to being the twin sister, if we use the word in its strictly biblical sense to-night ; for the old New England congregation, as it was called, dates back just about as many years as the life of this Scotch congregation, as it used to be called in this town, that was then called by the one people New Perth, and by the other White Creek. Had the fires dealt as gently 62 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION with the old New England congregation as they did with the Scotch congregation, it might have been a Church a hundred years old that stands on that other spot to-night. But three times the Church building erected there has been destroyed by iire. I count it as something very pleasant that we might join in a measure in your celebra- tion, and have the gladness and pleasure and profit of having you with us at the other Church building between services; for these two Churches and congregations have been long close together all through these hundred years and more. We are speaking of Church edifices. Let me add just a word or two in the line of history, to show the appro- priateness of our drawing together to-night, because we have been giving one to the other all through these years. Away back, a hundred years and more ago, the first Church edifice erected in this village was, as you have been told, the little log meeting house down in the southern part of the village. Do you know what became of that log meet- ing house? The New England congregation had started and partly finished their first meeting house almost on the exact spot where the " Brick Church " stands to-day ; and when your ancestors built their second building, the one that stands on the top of the hill, the logs of that first meeting house were taken, and more than half of them used to form a stockade around the New England congregation's meeting house, which was turned thus into a fort and used for defence. During the Revolu- tionary War the two congregations met together in that log meeting house and united in making that their meeting house and fort. And I say, one Church and one congregation has been giving to another through all these years. You go back a hundred years for the building of this Church, and mention has been made of the one who was most influential in building this Church edifice. And the OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 63 one who did the most therefore and helped it on the most, and whose name may well be mentioned, as it has been here to-night, was a trustee of the other congregation and had been a leader and influential man all through the years in the other congregation. He gave his daughter to be the wife of the pastor here, and, when the daughter came here. Gen. Williams came also here. You gave the logs of the first meeting house to us to help us turn our Church into a fort, and we gave the first, and head one, of our trustees to you, to help build this meeting house and to give you the support of all these hundred years of the sons who have followed him and have upheld his name. May I add only just one more word? There come to my mind remembrances of the past, as this is not only the centennial celebration of the building of this Church, but there have been to-day the services of the instaHation of your pastor. I remember very Avell the other installation services of my own and of your other pastors here; and looking back over the days that are past, I lift up unto God an earnest plea and prayer, and murmur the prayer called up by those days with hope for the days that are to come. I remember well the first winter that followed my installation as pastor of yonder Church, and the revival services in which Brother Forsyth and myself shared here and there. I remember and thank God for the services of the first winter that followed Rev. Mr. Mackenzie's in- stallation as pastor in this Church, and the revival services that followed here and there. And I pray God that this Church, within its walls, and that Church, within its walls, may see a like blessing following the installation services of a pastor in one of these Churches : that this winter we may to- gether worship and praise God and rejoice as souls are born into His kingdom, into His Church on earth and into the Church that endureth forever and praiseth Him forever. 64 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Address by Rev. R. D. Williamson. Mr. Chairman : I would like to bring you the congratu- lations of a sister Presbytery, the Albany Presbytery, the nearest one to the Argyle Presbytery ; and, while I think that I am the only representative of that Presbytery here to-night, I know that all the congregation of that Pres- bytery, if they could be represented here to-night, would congratulate you on this one hundreth anniversary of this Church. Does it not seem somewhat strange that we should congratulate people on getting old ? It is not the usual thing. We usually extend pity and compassion to those who grow old, because there is a feebleness connected with it, a kind of a breaking down or breaking up. But in this case there is nothing of that kind. There are no in- dications, so far as I can see, either on the outside of this building or on the inside of it, of any feebleness. Taking this Church building, and considering the history we have had of it here to-night, and looking at the Church building as we see it here to-night, I think that we can safely say that this Church has been growing more beautiful. Evi- dently the additions which have been made to it have beautified it, have made it so that you can worship in it more satisfactorily. And, as we look around to-night and see these inscriptions on the gallery, when we see nature brought in to adorn the house of God, when we see our National emblem here before us, it is something unusual when we remember this old Church as it was a hundred years ago. It is doubtful whether the old flag was brought in then ; it is doubtful whether there could have been any flowers taken into the Church on that occasion. And so, to-night, I think that the Church is becoming more and more beautiful. And, when we see these beautiful flowers on the platform and see nature adorning the holy house of the Lord, we are glad to see that nature is brought in to helj) beautify God' s house. We make our homes beauti- OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 65 f ul ; but should not our Church be more beautiful ? It is where we meet with God ; it is where we meet together to receive His benediction ; and if there is any one place on the earth that ought to be made beautiful, it is the Lord's house. And I think this congregation to-night ought to be congratulated on the beauty of their Church edifice. « « « « Address by Rev. G. C. Morhouse. I have been trying to imagine all day, as I have been here in this service, what it must mean to you people; and it is only in imagination that I can reach anything like what it must mean. I apx^reciate that thought of our brother, that we associate our spiritual experience with places. We are in some ways so constituted that we are bound by the limits of places. I have not had the experi- ence of a long dwelling-place and a church home as you have. I left the church in which I had my spiritual birth in the early days of my spiritual experience, and I have had thirteen church homes in these years that have since passed. But I think of you, sitting here to-night, inside these sacred walls, a hundred years old — five generations. Why, it must be wonderful ; the impression must be glori- ous that comes to the minds, especially of these older people to-day. What experiences, what thrilling sensa- tions accompanying those experiences, must come home to your hearts. I congratulate you that you have had the privileges of this Church home inside these sacred walls all these years ; and you ought to be grateful to-night, and I believe you are grateful, that God has protected your dwelling-place from the devouring elements, and that it is preserved to you through all these decades. You know 66 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION that the congregation that I represent here, in these years, has erected three church edifices. They have been, as my brother has suggested concerning the other church, at least one of them, destroyed by fire. God has dealt very kindly with you ; His providence has been over you, and surely your history, not merely in material things, but in spirit- ual thing and in the upbuilding of character, has been a remarlvable and glorious one. And, in conclusion, I want to join, from my heart, in the hojie expressed by Dr. Sprague in his closing remarks. I do hoiDe and pray, my dear brother, that your coming to this people and your being installed over this people and tliis Church may be followed by an outpouring of the Spirit of God upon this community ; that we pastors, working together under the manifestations of the Divine Si)irit and in the unity of the spirit and bond of peace and under this gracious divine influence that will come down upon our ministry, may, each of us, be privileged to see, in the months that are before us, a harvest here that shall make glad our hearts. I congratulate you on the ex- ercises and the associations and the influences of this day. « « « « Address by Rev. A. W. Morris. I think I should be very ungrateful indeed if I did not say a word on this occasion. It has been very seldom in my life that I have enjoyed a meeting as I have the one to- day. I have been here and been entertained, where I had nothing to do, and, consequently, no nervous strain, and I have enjoyed it to the full. I think the people of this congregation certainly have not only a right to be congratulated most heartily to-day, OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 67 but certainly there is something in connection with this celebration that should call from each heart here j)rofound gratitude to Almighty God, not only that your building has been preserved for a hundred years, but that this day — which indicates something, I take it, of the spiritual life of the congregation— has been so agreeably observed, and that you are so full to-night of spiritual life. From what I know of the parties forming a union here to-day, I cannot help but believe that the future is bright. I have known something of the Salem congregation for more than twenty - two years, and I have failed ever to find anything unfavor- able of them. I don't know that I ought to tell you how long I have known your pastor, for fear he might think he is older than he is. I have known him for at least twenty- seven years ; and away back in the heavy end of the '6r)'s and the beginning of the '7()'s he and I used to tumble around at a fearful rate to get over Greek roots and mathe- matical problems. And I don't think that you ought to judge him by the top of his head : he has a heart that is very large, as I think you will find as he gets along in his life among you. I have always known him very favorably, and he suggested to me the other day that I had been removed from the position of addressing the pastor to-day because I knew too much about him. I could not have said anything bad about him if I had wanted to do so. And I hope that the union that has started out so well may be long, and that a great spiritual blessing will not only come to this congregation, as has been expressed by a co-pastor here, but will come to the whole community and to every church in the village. « « « « Address by Mr. Skellie. I was invited here to attend this centennial and to make a few remarks ; but I could not put into language the joy 68 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION I have had in attending the meetings to-day. And, to show you the interest I felt in your centennial, as I had other business which had to be attended to in the forepart of the day, I had to start at three o'clock in the morning and drive twenty miles in the rain before I took the train. The first thing I shall say is, that I miss my dear old pastor, Dr. Gordon, and I call to your remembrance this dear one of your Presbytery. I stand here as one of his children — as it were, the first one, if I remember right — that was taken into the church at Coila after he was connected with that church, about forty years ago. Now, what I was invited here for particularly to speak of upon this occasion was this : In the good providence of God, two weeks ago, this afternoon, I was invited to attend a pastors' convention in New York City in regard to holding a day of prayer and fasting all over the United States in every evangelical church. Having been invited there to take part with those pastors, although a layman, I was invited by the chairman of the committee to use my influence in stirring up the congregations near where I was located, that they might all partake in this important work, by meeting on to-morrow afternoon, between two and five o' clock, to pray for the outpouring of God' s Spirit throughout the United States ; that they may be revived, that God' s blessing may rest upon us, that a revival of His work may commence in the hearts of His own beloved children, that we may look forth during the coming season to one of the most important revivals of God's work ever known upon this continent. I went to Greenwich on yesterday to stir up the pastors there as well as I might to take hold of this work. I in- formed them in Cambridge on Saturday. I have arranged with the pastors of this vicinity to meet at Mr. Graham' s Church to-morrow afternoon at the hour spoken of. I wish to add that, if this congregation wishes one of the greatest blessings it ever knew, it will not be unmindful of OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 69 the fact that to-morrow is one of the most important days in the history of the United States, as it is appointed to be a day of fasting and prayer for one of the most important works that ever took place. Now, if we will all engage in prayer for the outpouring of God's Spirit, that we our- selves, individually, may have God's work revived in our hearts, there is no trouble whatever about the unconverted. ti^vi REW JAMES C. EORSYTHE, 1). 1). 1858-1870 ** lRcmini6ccncc6/' By James C. Forsyth. Dear Friends : As I find it out of my power to be present in person and occupy a few minutes in giving some informal reminiscences of this venerable building — which has stood unmoved for one hundred years, and bids fair to do good service for one hundred years to come — I will, with your per- mission, speak by letter of some of the memories I still cherish and of events which transpired during my twelve years' pas- torate of the old " White Church." At the date of my call, April, 1858, this building stood very much as it came from the hands of your noble and self-denying fathers and mothers, who, with no little toil and expenditure of hard-earned money, built this temple in the wilderness in which to worship God, with no one to fear or to molest. It was beautiful in its stability and rugged simplicity, and by no means devoid of architectural symmetry, as is manifest this day. Its floors were then uncarpeted, its pews uncushioned ; and the melody of its music, as rendered by loving hearts and willing lips in Rouse's rugged version of David's Psalms, was "unadulterated" with organ notes, then regarded by many with abhorrence. During the interval which elapsed between the making out of the call and my installation, the building was painted without and within, the floors were carpeted and the seats cushioned, and the Church put in that neat and attractive condition in which it remained during my pastorate, with some added repairs immediately preceding the centennial of the Church's establishment in Salem : for which repairs the Church is in- debted to some of her earnest and faithful female workers. At the beginning of my pastorate the Church passed through a crisis : to which, at this distant day, I may be permitted to 72 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. advert as one of the important "reminiscences" of that period. The subject of a union between the Associate Reformed Church and the Associate Church had been agitated for more than twenty years. At the meeting of the Associate Reformed General Synod, which was held in the City of New York in May, 1857, the basis of union had been accepted by this body ; and at the subsequent meeting of the General Synods of both Churches, held in the City of Pittsburg, Pa., the following year, the union was consummated with great joy and thanks- giving. This Church did not look with favor on the union ; and after I was called, and before I was installed, a meeting of the congregation was called, and a resolution was passed — how unanimously I do not know — declaring that they would not go into the union. The subject created both discussion and feeling, and at the beginning of my pastorate there was not perfect union in the Church on the subject. But as we were in the union by the action of our supreme judicatory, and could not get out of it without great danger of tearing the Church asunder, my advice was that we remain quiet, and cease to agitate the subject until we saw whether we were to be disturbed in the enjoyment of our Christian liberty; and if we were, we could then act intelligently and unitedly. Happily this line of action was adopted. Peace ensued, prosperity followed. And now that more than a generation has passed, with these two diverse elements ever residing in your midst, the wisdom of that course will not be called in question by any. The roll of the Church membership, as well as I was able to make it out, in 1858, consisted of one htmdred and sixty-four members; and the worship of the Church was in all respects, as to its order, as it was in the old Church in her native home be- yond the seas, with the sole exception that "lining out" in the praise service had been dropped.* On the Saturday preceding the communion Sabbath, tokens (a piece of lead with A. R. * This custom consisted in the chorister reading two lines, which were sung by the congregation ; then two more were read, and sung. And this continued till the Psalm was sung. OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 73 Stamped on it) were distributed by the pastor to the commu- nicants present. And it is a pleasant memor}^ that, with but few exceptions, they were present at the vSaturday service and received these tokens of admission to the Lord's table. On the Sabbath morning — it was Sabbath then, not Sunday — the table was spread in the front aisle; and the first duty of the elders was to receive from each member his token soon after he or she had been seated at the table. Table followed table until all the members had communed. It was a solemn and impressive mode of commemorating the death of our Divine Lord ; and only want of space, on account of the narrow cen- tral aisle and the increase of our members, caused us to drop it and serve the communion to members in their pews. But, before this, "tokens'" were dropped, because there were not enough to go around, and we had outgrown that nomadic institution, which, at the time of its adoption in Scotland, might have been necessary. I would not do justice to these "reminiscences" if I failed to speak of a memory which is very dear to me, and by which this Church was greatly strengthened in spiritual life — the Church's true strength — and the angels in heaven caused to rejoice with exceeding great joy. The "week of prayer" was begun in the session room, on the night of the first Monday of January, 1868, and continued from night to night until the nth of April of the same year- During all this long period the services were well attended — many coming from the country every night through snow and cold. The interest increased until we were obliged to leave the session room and occupy the body of the Church — a marked example of the power of divine trtith to attract and hold and save; for during all these meetings no modern appliances were used. Outside aid, except on two or three occasions, and only for a few nights, was not called in; and the services rendered by the members of the two Presbyterian Churches — the Brick was then vacant — were purely voluntary. I never called on any one to take part. The promptings of the Spirit which they had received in answer to the prayer of faith actuated them to testify to His power to save, and of which they were 74 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION the living witnesses, was their only incentive to speak and pray, as many of them did both ably and well. Many of these testimonies were given before uniting with the Church. Of this Henry Safford was a memorable example. And I must here record with gratitude the aid given by good Deacon Atwood, of the Brick Church. As a result of these scriptural services and of the labors and prayers of the good people of the two Churches, of whom I could name many (some of whom still live), at our regular spring communion twenty-five were received into the Church by confession of their faith in Christ, of whom eleven were baptized; some of these, by reason of years, were nearly ripe for the grave. As it was manifest that this ingathering had not fully reaped the harvest, the meetings were continued each night as before, unaided from without, but aided mightily by the Spirit and workers resident in the field. Another communion was held April nth, when fifteen more were added — fourteen by examination, five of whom were baptized. And as though God would show us His willingness to give us His Holy Spirit when we ask and are ready to receive, those were added at our June communion; but, six weeks later, tzvelve more members were added — nine by examination, six of whom were baptized. The immediate result of this blessed visit of the Spirit in response to the faith, labors send, prayers of God's people was fifty-nine added to this Church by a confession of their faith in Christ. As evidence that this movement was of the Spirit, 1 am glad to say that during my pastorate those who came into the Church at this time proved their ^^ faith by their zvorks." I would be untrue to one of the very pleasant memories of this blessed life experience did I fail to refer to a feature of our spring communion which gladdend many Christian hearts, and is still fondly cherished. The "supply" for the Brick Church failing to come, on our communion Sabbath fol- lowing the awakening they, in a body, came to our Church. The question then became a very practical one: Shall we invite them to our communion ? You know that, in theory at least, the United Presbyterian Church is close communion. OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 75 By the authority of the session I invited them all to come and with us take their seats at the Lord's table, and with us banquet on His love. They did come and were glad ; and the memory of that communion is sweet. Did time permit I would gladly speak of the Church's cen- tennial, when her sons and her daughters came from near and from far to honor their mother and to revive memories of years and of joys that had passed. But the record of that meeting is in your library, and almost all who participated are in the Church above. Nor will time permit me to speak of our Evergreen Cemetery, which was begun and completed while my home was in your village, and in which interest is ever increased and deepened as, one by one, our dear ones are gathered and in that beautiful spot laid down to sleep the dreamless sleep of death. My memories of the old "White Church" are very many and very dear, including not only the building, but those who worshiped there, many of whom are now dwellers in our Father's house above. One closing thought I will express with pleasure and with pride, and that is, that no uncertain sound has ever been heard from the pulpit of the old "White Church." Her pastors all, both great and small — and some of them were men of renown in their day — have been true to their commission and loyal to their Master : not wise above that which is written. And the fruit has been, and is, a united, prosperous Church, and a people firm in their faith, loyal to their Church, and, through the means of grace here enjoyed, ripening for the pure joy and the blessed rest of that world of perfect love to which the Saviour, one by one, calls His ransomed family to dwell for- ever with Himself, in the enjoyment of that glory unspeakable to which He has attained as the triumphant Redeemer of man from death and the grave. As it has been in the past, so may it ever be to the end : God, by His Truth and Holy Spirit, constantly residing in the old " White Church," to educate, to comfort, to bless, and to save. REV. WILLIAM A. ALVCKLNZIE 1871-1897 Xcttcre. The Committee of Invitation received many letters from friends at a distance, some of which were read that evening. All that was written being worthy of i^reserva- tion, copious extracts have been taken, and are here subjoined. The first was penned by Rev. William A. Mackenzie, the immediate predecessor of the pastor just installed. His words were not written with the intent of being given to the ]3ublic ; but who could si)eak more to the point con- cerning the old "White Church" than he, who occupied its pulpit for over a quarter of the century % The folio wing- is an extract from his letter : I hope that the day may be one of blessing, and that it may be the beginning of a new era of prosperity to the old "White Church," and that your sanctuary, which has from the very beginning been a high throne, from which the Mas- ter has issued His orders, given His counsel, extended His sceptre, pronounced His blessing, received the sinful, com- forted the sorrowing, strengthened the weak, warned the erring, lifted up the cast down, pointed to the better world and moulded and shaped therefor, laid His hand upon tlie little children and blessed them, and sent the bereaved with their dead to bury them out of their sight, with the comforts of His gospel in their hearts — this, and much more which I cannot now record, may the place of your sanctuary be in the one hundred years to come, as it has been in the one hundred years past — a '■^glorious high throne,'' from which the Master may still be the same to such as may gather within its walls. 78 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION His younger son, Wm. A. Mackenzie. Jr., a bright and thriving young lawyer, now living in Syracuse, makes this remai'k in his letter : It seems hard for me to realize that my own associations with the old building extend over one-qnarter of the time you celebrate. Of all the occasions, joyful and sad, which come to my mind with the thought of the dear old place, it would be im- possible for me to speak, but I would like to know what others have to say, and hope that the exercises will be fully reported. « « « « Rev, H. L. Singleton, B. D., whose letter follows, almost in full, had temporary charge of the congregation for several of the fall and winter months, some years ago, during the illness and consequent absence of Mr. Mackenzie : I sincerely regret that an engagement in this city pre- vents me from attending the exercises of the "White Church" edifice to which you have kindly invited me. The occasion will be not only an interesting one, but an important one. The " White Church " has a history that is in some of its aspects unique. It begins in the old country, much of which was tragic ; it records a chapter of two months and a half on the boisterous waves of the Atlantic; it signalizes it as the first watch-tower of Zion erected in the wilderness of the New World north of Albany. It became the fountain source whence flowed the streams of family and ecclesiastical life that supplied and enriched the surrounding country. The lines of its history here are coincident and parallel with those of our civil and national history. Many of her sons were bravely and heroically engaged in our Revolutionary War. Her most distinguished member — OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 79 throug-h whose counsel and contribution mainl}?- your present " White Church " was located and erected — on the field of battle, in the halls of legislation, in Congress, on the judiciary, con- tributed an important part in the achievement of our inde- pendence and the construction of our State and national commonwealths — General Jo Jin Williams. Under the faithful pastors of the Church generations have come and gone, from whom influences and agencies have sprung which have reached far and wide, shaping the religious life of individuals, churches, and communities. Much and perhaps the richest part of the " White Church's " history is unwritten; but it is recorded, and will be rehearsed, in the assembly and church in the Salem above. With my congratulations to the congregation, whose privilege it is to be the generation to celebrate the centennial, I am fraternally yours, H. L. Singleton. « « « « Rev. Dr. John D. Wells, Avho now lives in Brooklyn, speaks for himself of his young days spent in the vicinity : Yours of the 29th ult. is before me. I thank you for the courtesy of an invitation to the service commemorating the centennial of the " White Church " building, Salem, N. Y. My early association with Salem makes your invitation very attractive, and it seems almost absurd to plead a multitude of years as my main reason for failing to be present on that inter- esting occasion. There are other reasons indeed, for I am still a busy pastor, but eighty-two years and a small fraction more liold me fast to my home and parish. I need hardly add an expression of the hope that yoiir cen- tennial may be the occasion of great blessing, as well as of great interest, to the good people and pastor who worship in the venerable building. Yours sincerely, John D. Wells. So CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Next we i)rint the kind words of one so widely known that no introduction is needed; there must only be an explanation of his connection with the little village of Salem ; the postscript will explain that : 91 Park Avenue, New York, Nov. 2, 1897. Dear Sir : I very much regret that my engagements are such that I must deprive myself of the pleasure of accepting your valued invitation to the services commemorative of the " White Church," appointed for the 9th instant. I shall be much interested to learn of the complete success of your pains- taking arrangements for illustrating an occasion of historic interest. Very respectfully and truly, Andrew H. Green. Messrs. F. H. Williams, Wm. McFarland, David H. Safford. It occurs to me that the F, H, Williams above may be the lady with whom I have had correspondence and who is a mem- ber of our Scenic Society. If so, I trust she will accept my apology for not prefixing her proper title. « « « « The epistle of Rev. Dr. Steele is interesting, not only from its intrinsic merit, but from the fact that some of his relatives still form part of the congregation in Salem. We will mention one — the wife of Hon. Lonson Fraser : 113 Charlotte Ave., Detroit, Mich., Nov. i, 1897. Dear Madam : I thank you, and your associates in the committee, for the invitation to attend the services commemorating the centen- nial of the " White Church " building in Salem. OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 8i At an earlier season of the year it would have been pleasant for me to visit the town of Salem and enjo)^ the feast of good things which you are providing. BiTt I must deny myself of the pleasure of meeting with the congregation on this interest- ing occasion. Yet I must send to this Church of my fatJiers my most hearty congratulations and my joy on learning of your continued prosperity. I have pleasant recollections of that noble sanctuary in which three generations have had the privilege of worshiping. What a noble race of men they were who stood at the front to do work for the Master. And what an array of godly minis- ters who have proclaimed through these years the glorious Gospel of the grace of God. The occasion will be a delightful one, and cannot fail to result in much profit to you all. Regretting that I cannot be with you on the 9th inst., and trusting that the exercises may be all that you anticipate, I am, yours very truly, Richard H. Steele. « « « « The production of Rev. Dr. ScouUer's pen shows an aptitude of handling wrought through long experience as a church historian. True, natural taste and genius must be behind that ; read the following and you will admit that those are not lacking. Newville, Pa., Nov. i, 1897. Your kind invitation to attend the approaching centenary of the old "White Church" has been received; and if it were within the possibilities I would gladly do so. But long in- validism has been so weighted with years that I have become virtually housebound. It is now more than a year since I have been upon the street, and almost two since I have been to 82 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION chiirch, and my days are far from being days of comfort, although my heart is fixed "and my mind is at peace." My first visit to Salem was in June, 1845, when I spent a week with Dr. Halley, and preached for him twice. Since then I was often there, and have had many valued friends in that old "White Church." But Time, the tomb-builder, has, I guess, garnered them all ; so that I am now personally a stranger there. God has again and again signally blessed that old Church . and if faithful to your trust. He will bless you still, for He loves to give. My prayer is that the past, with all its rich fruitage, may be only an earnest or first-fruit of a glorious future. Very truly, J.\1\IES B. SCOULLER. « « « « Next we have a contribution from the pen of Mrs. Wiles, a child of Dr. Halley, the lifth of the nine pastors who have had charge of the congregation in one hundred and thirty years : Albany, N. Y., Nov. 6, 1897. Dear Friends : The very cordial invitation of your committee, urging my presence at the services commemorating the centennial of the " White Church " building, is at hand. I wish to thank you, most sincerely, for this kind remembrance ; and were it possible for me to be absent from home on the day you have chosen for this service, be assured that nothing would give me more pleasure than to be with you. I have a warm place in my heart for the Salem people and the old "White Church," for I remember that that Church was my father's first charge in this country, and it was there that he gave so many of the younger years of his life. While circumstances will prevent my acceptance of your REV. P:I5ENEZER HALLEY, 1). D. 1 838 -1 84 8 OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 83 polite invitation, I shall certainly remember the event and pray for the continual increase of the old Church and its good people. Again thanking you, I remain, Very truly yours, Fanny Hart Halley Wiles. « « « « Mrs. Wiles was not born in Salem ; lier brother, Rev. Dr. Eben Halley, had his birth place here. Taken in the prime of manhood from earth to heaven, he shall be kept in remembrance by these words of regret and affection written by his bereaved wife : Dear Friends : I have just received the note of invitation from the com- mittee of the "White Church" building, and beg leave to thank them most kindly and warmly for their desire that I should be present at their interesting exercises. It would give me more pleasure than I can express to be in Salem on November 9th. I have heard from Dr. Halley, Sen., and my husband of their Salem days, and to which they always referred with the greatest affection. I regret, however, my inability to be one of those who shall listen to the reports and history dating over such a long period. Congratulating you and thanking you, I ain, Most sincerely, Henrietta B. Halley, « « « « Mrs. Farrington, whose communication follows, lived in Salem almost ten years, in the old parsonage, while her husband preached the word, administered the sacraments, 84 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION and kept watch and ward of the " White Church" people. He died many years ago in Newbnrgh. Mrs. Farrington lives with her daughters in Lakewood, New Jersey. My Dear Young Friend : I was about writing' to you when we received your invitation to the centennial of the "White Church." I am too blind to go alone, and my daughters are more occupied than usual, owing to a new association for village improvement, which leaves them no spare time. I should much have enjoyed being there, but can only send my wishes for the presence of the Holy Spirit upon pastor and people. Please give our thanks to the committee for remembering us old friends. God has blessed you in the past ; may you have a double portion in the future : one may sow and another reap. May God have us all in His holy keeping until He takes us to Himself. M. M. Farrington. « « « « Tidings from the extreme north of the Presbytery came in the shape of these hopeful words of Dr. Reynolds : Putnam, N. Y. Dear Friends: Your kind invitation received, for which accept my thanks. I am sorry to be unable to be with you at the " White Church's " centennial. I hope, however, there will be a generation one hundred years hence, at Salem, both godly and prosperous and tracing many of their blessings back to the old " White Church." Yours sincerely, J. A. Reynolds. OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 85 The writer of that which follows was the Principal of the Washington Academy for a number of years. He is now a very successful pastor of a church in a neighboring town, and not infrequently visits our village: CoHOES, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1897. Committee of Invitation : Many thanks for the request to be present at the centennial of the "White Church " building, Salem. It is a sacred spot to me. There much of the truth that was planted in the heart of my precious mother took deep root, and was then brought to me in its fruitage to prepare me to be a minister of Jesus Christ. God only knows the blessing that Church has been, not only to the town of Salem, but also to Washington County and to the whole United States. Many a devout person has thought of that consecrated place, and said, " How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts." I shall attend your delightful centennial services if my many engagements here shall permit. Yours very respectfully, in Christian love, Wm. M. Johnson. « « « « Rev. Dr. Fisher, whose eloquent production next appears, was settled in West Hebron, not so very many years ago ; and being so near a neighbor has always been asked to share in our celebrations. Though not here in person, we fancied him present w hen this was read : New York, Oct. 30, 1897. Committee on Invitation : It is a matter of profound regret that I am again prevented from accepting the very kind invitation to share in one of the "memorable occasions" of the historic "White Church." An important event in my family — the marriage of my only daughter, on the day succeeding the one fixed for celebrating 86 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION the centennial of the " White Church" building — has established a monopoly of my time to the exclusion of all other interests. I wish to assure you of the warm interest I feel in every- thing that concerns the history of the old " White Church." I could only have been present in spirit when the old Church was building, a fact which will hardly account for the interest ; but the familiar names of the men who were there and of those who succeeded them have been household words in the homes familiar to the most of my life. The ambition that stirred my boyish hopes found their in- spirations in the living men that carved the fortunes of the Presbyterian churches (conspicuously the Associate Reformed) of the south end of Washington County. Within the sweep of the horizon of that young life, the giants in the ecclesiastical world, w^ere the men who occupied those pulpits, foremost among whom were Drs. Proudfit, Halley, and others familiar to the most of you. The influence of the men of the Chnreh of those early generations, in determining for the young the highest and noblest careers, both in Church and State, is beyond question. May those who have succeeded to their positions be alike faithful to their obligations, and transmit the inheritance with the added lustre of nobly filled opportimities. I am very sincerely yours, J. R. Fisher. « « « « Mrs. Fowler was a Miss McAllister once upon a time. She has removed far away from her childhood's home; but the mail is carried to and from Minnesota with great regularity, and brought us this warm-hearted effusion, to which we listened wdth delight : Minneapolis, Minn., Nov. 5, 1897. Dear Friends : I received your kind invitation yesterday, and hasten to reply. Nothing could have given me greater pleasure than to OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 87 visit the dear old place once more, had circumstances been favorable. May the blessing" of Almighty God rest upon all who are still members and interested in the old " White Church," where I first confessed Christ, and who has led me all the way these many years. I shall read the notice in the Salem paper of the services with great interest. Thanking you for your kind remembrance of me, I remain your friend, S. A. Fowler. « « « « The sons of tlie Church came to the front again, as they did at the congregation's centennial, also the quarter-cen- tennial of the eighth pastor, a year ago. Letters from four of Mr. Mackenzie's young men are inserted here in the order named : K-ev. Herbert C. Hinds, now in the Presby- terian Cliurch ; Rev. Albert G. Todd, Congregational, set- tled in Worcester, Mass.; Rev. Charles T. White, over a Presbyterian Church in Hebron ; Rev. James G. Robert- son, pastor of a Congregational Church in Chester, New Hampshire : 4 McPherson Terrace, Albany, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1897. My dear Miss W.: It would afford me very much pleasure to attend the centennial exercises of the old " White Church," and say a few words of the future ; but a previous engagement to deliver an address before the quarterly convention of the Y. P. S. C. E. of Schenectady County, at Schenectady, in the afternoon of Tuesday, the 9th, will prevent. I regret that some meeting interferes with all your calls for a speech, and I hope that I may be able to respond to your next request. With many thanks to you and the committee, and with best wishes for your future, I am very cordially yours, Herbert C. Hinds. 88 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 15 Stafford St., Worcester, Mass., Nov. 3, 1897. Committee of Invitation. My dear Friends : I consider myself highly honored in receiving an invitation to the centennial of the " White Church " building, Salem, N. Y. I truly regret that it will be impossible for me to attend the exercises connected therewith — due, in fact, to the meeting of our Ministerial Association on that date, in Bethany Church. That the occasion may prove a spiritual uplift to the beloved Church, and entire community, is my hearty wish and earnest prayer. Cordially, Albert G. Todd. Hebron, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1897. Mr. D. H. Safford. Dear Sir : The kind invitation of the committee to attend the anniversary exercises of the " White Church " building, Tuesday evening, Nov. 9, was received three days ago. I have delayed answering in the hope of seeing my way clear to accept the invitation, but the coming week seems so far filled with special work that I am extremely doubtful whether I can allow myself the pleasure of being present. Hoping I can find time to enjoy the occasion with you, I will, at least, extend my congratulations to the congregation for their past history of usefulness and service in the vineyard of the Master, hoping and praying that the future of the old " White Church " may be even brighter than the past, and that the new pastorate, so auspiciously begun, may mark an era of prosperity and rich spiritual blessings. With thanks for the invitation, I remain. Sincerely yours, Chas. T. White. Chester, N. H., Nov. 2, 1897. Dear Friends : I write to thank 3^ou for the kind invitation to be present at the centennial service soon to be held in the "White Church." .L.oiC. OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 89 It is with sincere regret that I write saying I shall not be able to be with you, for I owe so much to the Church of my boyhood and youth that I wish to show deference to her in every possible way. If the Lord has, in His wondrous mercy, made me to be of some service to my brother men, I have the training received in the " White Church " to thank for it. My sympathy and prayers shall be with you on the joyous occasion, and I will rejoice with you in spirit. Sincerely yours, Jas. G. Robertson. « « « « The w^eek after tlie centennial was over, on receiving the newspaj)er account, Mr. Robertson wrote once more to this effect : I am glad the exercises went off so well and that there was so large an attendance. Just think, we shall never have that opportunity again ! One centennial is all that is allowed to mortals. One who reflects upon this finds no difficulty in recog- nizing his limitations as to hundred-year anniversaries. Another generation will inhabit the earth when the next centennial of the old Church comes around, if the building will last so long. How I should like to look in on thein to observe their manners and customs. I doubt if steam-cars will be running over the old D. & H. road ; there will be other and better modes of transportation. I think some of the old family names will remain. McFarland's and Beatty's will still inherit the earth, and tend store, and be useful in a thousand ways. How time flies ! « « « « We empty the mail-bag by producing two letters from ministers of the M. E. Church. They contain good wishes 90 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION from Rev. Mr. Harwood (who was here for several terms, and whom we would like to have had longer, the inter- course between the congregations being so pleasant), and Mr. Meeker who, though never stationed in Salem, was almost the next thing to it, having his abode in Cambridge : Round Lake, Nov. 8, 1897. Mr. William McFarland, Member of the Committee of Invitation. Dear Sir : Your kindly invitation is before me, and I hasten to reply. While it would afford me much pleasure to be present at your centennial, circumstances are such that I cannot well attend. Hoping that you as a people may have an enjoyable time, I remain, Yours fraternally, T. W. Harwood. P. S. — May the old " White Church " stand another hundred years, to shed its halo of brightness on its many sons and daughter, and bless the conwiiinity where its honored form is so well known. T. W. H. « « « « Troy, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1897. Committee of Invitation. Dear Friends : I can hardly tell in words what heartfelt pleasure it gives me to be invited once more to the old " White Church " and its devout people for another memorial service. I thought, when with you in your last celebration, that I was attending my final service in a place that has been, like Uz of old, invested with the divine Spirit for a hundred years. I have a great veneration for old places where the fathers and mothers gathered for their Sabbath worship, where the Gospel has been preached in its purity and power, and where I have been occasionally invited to give a sermon and received OF OLD WHITE CHURCH. 91 with the kindest welcome by pastor and people. As I have said, I greatly appeciate the kind invitation, and would be delighted to join with you in the historic service, but a previous engagement prevents acceptance. Though absent in body, I shall be present with you in spirit ; and my prayer is that the devotion, peace, and prosperity which has characterized you in the past will continue in the future. Most cordially yours, W. H. Meeker. ^S» '^« ^^ "i^'r.yj' "ir^i*-% TOKENS H)c0cnption of tbe flDuecunu Persistently has the "Gray Man" shadowed all of Salem's history, and this fragment wonld be incomplete without a touch of his hand. Thus he seems to have regarded the matter, for on the eve of the centennial he quietly placed on the collector's desk a long-lost relic: this was a small gray book, containing the farewell address of Dr. Thomas Clark to his Balibay congregation. The little volume had not been seen for a dozen or more years, and its mysterious re-appearance is at least worth noting. A few days before, while search was being made in an old garret, there came to light a quaint picture of a church. It was wrought with a needle in silks ; on the back was pasted a newspaper, bearing date 1797 ; this savored so strongly of the Gray Man's manoeuvres that his domain was abandoned and interesting relics were sought else- where. Friends, learning that antiques were desired for exhibi- tion on this occasion, sent two old-time foot-stoves, which were formerly carried to Church that the worshipers might not freeze ; an ancient Bible and Psalm-book too, long out-lasting their original owners ; a huge china plat- ter was in the collection, having escaped uncracked from the wreck of time ; a pewter plate and porridge-pot were also known to have ' ' ministered to the necessities of the Saints" in the dim long ago. A few Church "Tokens" were displayed to be looked at where once they had been distributed with great solemnity ; the writer remembers the responsibility which the care of a "Token" involved, from the Saturday afternoon service CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 94 until it was safely returned to an elder at the communion table. What if it should be left at home, or worse, droi)X)ed when being handed ? A baptismal bowl was one of the interesting articles ; many years' service had so worn off the silver that it had been considered unlit for use and stored away, no one knows how long, on a high shelf. Two contribution-boxes with long handles, to provide for reaching the extreme ends of the pews, testified that giving was practised as an act of worship in those ancient days, though in a different style from the modern plates now passed around. There were letters of early date, besides publications whose venerable appearance called forth the wonder which "The Salem Book" and this pamphlet may evoke in nineteen hundred and ninety- seven. O^