1829-1879. 
 
 Fiftieth Anniversary j 
 
 'F I 
 
 OF TJIF ' 
 
 OF DANVILLE, ILL., 
 
 C()XTA1N1XG AXXIVEIKSAHY SEKMOX BY THE PASTOR, 
 REY. A. E. IHiOOKS. IHSTORY OF SABBATH 
 SCHOOr., ]5Y EBEX H. PALMER. 
 
 i REMIX ISCEXCES OF REY. EXOCH KIXGSBURY, BY MRS. 
 I AXXIE M. SAYAX. REMIXISCEXCES OF THE DE- 
 
 I 
 
 j (/EASED ORIGIXAL MEMBERS, BY MRS. 
 
 I 
 
 I FAXXTE KIXGSBURY. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 MARCH 8th AND 9th, 1879. 
 
 
 D.ANVILLE, ILLINOIS. 
 
 COMMFIKTAT. S’lTLVM PIIINTING ESTAliLTSIlMKNT, 
 
 
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1829-1879. 
 
 Fiftieth Anniversary 
 
 OF THE 
 
 OF DANVILLE, ILL., 
 
 CL^XTAIXIXG ANNIVERSARY SERMON BY THE PASTOR, 
 REY. A. L. BROOKS. HISTORY OF SABBATH 
 SCHOOL, BY EBEX H. PALMER. 
 
 REMINISCENCES OF REY. ENOCH KINGSBURY, BY MRS. 
 ANNIE M. S^YAN. REMINISCENCES OF THE DE¬ 
 CEASED ORIGINAL MEMBERS, BY MRS. 
 FANNIE KINGSBURY. 
 
 MARCH 8th and 9th, 1879. 
 
 DANVILLE, ILLINOIS. 
 
 CO.MMEKCIAL STEAM PRINTING ESTABLISHMf^NT. 
 
I 
 
/•'S’^'Sp 
 
 ^S5. 
 
 F 5 ( ^ -f 
 
 Social Reunion. 
 
 The exercises connected with the observance of the Fiftieth 
 Anniversary of the organization of the Presbyterian Church in tliis 
 (*itv, were coinnnuiced with a social reunion on the evening of the 8th 
 of INIarch, in the lecture room and parlors of the church. Quite a 
 number of former members from abroad were present, but no one of 
 the former ministers. After a most sumptuous repast, served by the 
 ladies of the congregation, and a thoroughly social and delightful re¬ 
 newal of old accjuaintances, the ])astor read several specially inter¬ 
 esting letters from former pastors and members, especially from Revs. 
 .IA^^ES W. Stark and William R. Palmer, and from Prof, (now^ 
 I vev.) Norman Prentis. On .this occasion the pastors of the other 
 evangelical churches of the city were present with their wives and 
 contributed much to the social pleasure of the reunion. 
 
 > 
 
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 in 2018 with funding from 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 0 
 
 https://archive.org/details/fiftiethannivers00firs_1 
 
Anniversary Sermon 
 
 liY THE PASTOR, RPZV. A. L. RKOOKS. 
 
 Which is (he church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.— 
 1 Timothy, 3: 15. 
 
 At the point where the straits of Gibraltar enter into tlie Medi¬ 
 terranean sea, on the coast of Spain, stands one of the ancient pillars 
 of Hercules. In English history it bears the name of Gibraltar^ It 
 
 S 4/ 
 
 has been recognized ever since it came into the possession of the 
 Moors in the eiglith century as the strongest fortification of the 
 world. After more than six hundred years of possession by the 
 Moors, it fell into the hands of the English in 1713, and during that 
 century it held up the crown and glory of England against the allied 
 powers of France and Spain in the most terrible siege ever recorded 
 in history. It has been declared to be impregnable by all the milita¬ 
 ry and naval forces of the world. Its ancient name, the Pillar of 
 Hercules, is the fitting symbol of its imperishable strength and of the 
 power and glory of the nation under whose guns the commerce of 
 the Mediterranean must pass. It is the significant presence of the 
 military prowess, the political pre-eminence, the royal dignity, and the 
 solemn sovereignty of England amid all the commotions and political 
 , convulsions that are shaking Spain and Italy and Greece an I Turkey, 
 for her frowning fortress casts its shadow upon every man of war or 
 ship laden with commerce that asks a passage into the western ocean. 
 It is the pillar and ground of the English throne to all the East. 
 From its capital streams the ensign that announces the supremacy of 
 English law and English civilization. Here are the institutions of a 
 limited monai-chy, of civil and religious liberty, of untramineled edu- 
 
ration, not only represented, but enforced and protected. Here the 
 legislation of the English government rests for the sublime force that 
 makes it significant and impressive to her own and all other peoples. 
 
 It is possible my comparison of the church of the living God to 
 the English Gibraltar, and the idea of her comparative significance to 
 the moral and spiritual condition of men, may seem extravagant to 
 some of YOU to-dar. I know there are manv who make the social 
 and moral condition of the people of our times depend more* upon 
 the school house than upon the church, more upon the press than 
 upon the pulpit, more ujwn the measures of the ascendant political 
 party than upon the principles wdiich the church of the living God 
 maintains. But you will indulge me at this time in speaking of the 
 church in the light in wdiich the apostle speaks of it to his son in the 
 gospel, Timothy. He calls it ‘^The church of the living God;’’ in 
 which the living God is worshiped; wdiere his institutions for the 
 direction, the rule and sanctification of the human family are authori- 
 tatively set up. The human race are the creatures of God, He is 
 responsible for their government, for all suitable and necessary au- 
 thoritv for their o’uidance to the realization of the gi'eat end for their 
 creation. His will and pleasure of his creatures have been revealed 
 in varied forms and by various institutions from the earliest period of 
 their existence. As the infinite and eternal Sovereign of the race he 
 has instituted his church, as the place of his abode among men, as 
 the external and effectual means of manifesting his perfections of 
 character and o-overnment among: men. It stands in similar relation 
 to the human family to that of the capital city and government build¬ 
 ings to the people of the nation. It is the seat of the divine authority, 
 as the capital is the seat of the national authority. In the church the 
 divine authority over the race is maintained, as the authority over the 
 nation is maintained at the capital. Here the unchangeable law of tlie 
 living God is preserved and proclaimed. Here his government is made 
 tangible to the understanding and conscience of men. It does not 
 represent a limited and mere human authority. It is not a human 
 institution, but the church of the living God, among and for the })res- 
 ervation of the divine authority over men, established to assert the 
 
/V 
 
 / 
 
 supreme law aiul love of God for the control and sanctification of 
 men, for their preservation to the end for their creation. It is the 
 visible body into which he has come by his invisible Spirit, and 
 through whose activity he is making his will and pleasure known to 
 the human family. It is the ])illar that uj)holds, or lilts uj), the truth 
 through all the ages of the world, just as the Pillar of Hercules, or 
 the promontory of Gibraltar, holds the authority ami government of 
 the Eno’lish throne to the commerce of the Mediterranean. 
 
 o 
 
 We readily appreciate the great truth that the church is the only 
 special and divinely ordained support of the truth among men. Her 
 doctrines are the formulated and fundamental law of God for the 
 government of men as subjects of his kingdom. The cliurch stands 
 sublimely distinct and imperial among the institutions of the world, 
 the pillar of truth, the truth of the sovereignty of God in all human 
 affairs, over all human governments, holding all accountable to the 
 throne of God, dependent upon the favor of God, setting forth the 
 government which is imperative for the present and final life and 
 blessedness of every accountable creature. The church, as the pillar, 
 holds UJ) the arch on which the temple rests; holds up the truth on 
 which the sovereio’nty over and the final salvation of the human 
 family rests. The truth sustains a similar relation to the moral gov¬ 
 ernment of men,‘to their rational and spiritual life and blessedness, to 
 that which the natural sun sustains to the material governnumt and 
 blessedness of men. It is the b'o-ht of their moral and immortal life; 
 and the church is the divinely ordained pillar to hold up that truth, 
 to make its lio-ht and heat known and efiective for the welfare of 
 
 it' 
 
 men. It is no province of the human government, however its legis¬ 
 lation and administration may be modified by the truth, to hold up 
 the truth. It is no province of science, of the knowledge of the 
 material universe,.to hold up the truth, the moral and spiritual truth, 
 which are for the moral and sj^iritual control and salvation of men. 
 The church of the living God is the pillar and ground of the truth. 
 By the teachings of the church the sovereignty and grace of God are 
 published to the world. In the church his law and love are made 
 known. The church proclaims the eternity of his power and godhead 
 
8 
 
 over men, holds the understanding and the conscience of the human 
 family with the conviction of their responsibility and dependence. 
 Her teaching is the acknowledged law of God. Our Savior said ; 
 
 Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; 
 and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 
 
 He that heareth you heareth me ; and he that despiseth you despis- 
 eth me ; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.” 
 
 By the teachings and ordinances of the church, the kingdom of 
 God becomes present, tangible and effective for the government and 
 salvation of men. The church makes supreme over the understand¬ 
 ing and conscience of men the immutable righteousness of God. By 
 all her teachings and ordinances she holds the understandings of men 
 to the sovereign necessity of righteousness in all the thought and pur- 
 j)Oses of men. The church holds up this sublime perfection of the 
 infinite Creator for the enlightening and control of all human govern¬ 
 ments in their legislation, in their administration, for the fundamental 
 |)rinciple in their internal and international life, bringing all their 
 commerce, their untold industries, their civil and political, their social 
 and domestic institutions under the necessary control of this ultimate 
 law of right. 
 
 You will perhaps discredit this sublime position and responsi- « 
 bility of the church of the living God. But will you ask yourself 
 whence has come this general consciousness of this sovereign law in 
 the national, social and domestic life of the people? Has it been 
 evolved by the necessities or the experience of men? Is it the fruit 
 of continued legislation? Is it the result of secular education? Is 
 it the inevitable expression and manifestation of the attributes of our 
 natural life? or is it the direct revelation of the living God in his 
 word and in the life and works of his incarnate Son? It certainly 
 does not exercise a controlling power over the laws and customs of 
 the people to whom the scriptures and the Son of God are unknown. 
 
 It is not developed under the dominion of j)aganism and superstition, 
 and we unhesitatingly reaffirm that the Christian church holds and 
 proclaims the great law of righteousness, which guides and controls 
 
0 
 
 the civilized world in its h^g-islation and in its vast industries, and its 
 social and domestic institutions. The churcli is the jiillar and th(i 
 oround of tliis o-n^at truth, of the sovei’eio-n and eN’erlastiim- rio-ht- 
 eousness of God. And we may als<.^ allirm that what the church of 
 the livino- God is to the great race in its needs, the individual church, 
 that is loyal to its great head, is to the limited community in which 
 its ministi-ies are maintained. The church that thoroughly vindicates 
 her title to the church of the living- God is not an inoperative and in¬ 
 significant presence in the community, but is tlie pillar which liolds 
 up the truth t’lat modifies the whole habit and expression of the 
 oommunitv. It were as blasphemous to deny to the church of the 
 living God the vital force that restrains and modifies the whole leg¬ 
 islative and social manifestation of the community, as to deny to the 
 sun the lio-ht and heat that rule the material world and modifies all 
 
 O 
 
 its conditions and products. That force may ojierate silently and un¬ 
 obtrusively, nor as elfectively as it might do with a higher consecration 
 of her powers to the immediate objeid of redeeming the community 
 from its vices. But it is the most marked and significant and all-per¬ 
 vasive power over the conscience of the community. The Christian 
 ministry is the divinely ordained instrumentality to i^ublish to the 
 
 %/ %.' 4/ i. 
 
 world the jierfections of the divine government. The church is pro¬ 
 claimed bv the Lord himself to be “ the light of the world,” the light 
 ];y which the human family shall guide itself in all the responsible 
 duties and relations of life. In every service and sacrament of the 
 Christian cliurch, the rigliteousness of the divine and immutable gov- 
 (u nment of God over men is, with more or less distinctness, proclaimed 
 to us. The force of this great truth operates directly ujion every par¬ 
 ticipant in the service, and indirectly upon the whole community, 
 through the modified life and character of those who engage in the 
 service of the church. The genei-al character of the community is 
 the result of the loyalty and integrity with which the church upholds 
 the sovereign righteousness of God. 
 
 And equally true is the declaradon that the church is the only 
 
 X */ 
 
 divinely ordained institution for the ])roclamation of the love of Gcd. 
 She is the pillar that holds up this great truth to the sinful and per- 
 
10 
 
 world. Nature in her infinite fullness and cTandeur, in her iin- 
 measurable provision for the needs of the mortal life, proclaims the 
 goodness of God, but the hig-her and holier attribute of love shines 
 upon us only through the teachings and ordinances of the church of 
 the living God. The most distant reach of material science has never 
 touched or discovered the emotions of the great Creator. Human 
 legislation has never presunxed to establish the great principle of love, 
 but only of equity, of justice. Secular education is largely forced to 
 ignore the consciousness of this divine perfection. All the beneh- 
 tence,* the incomprehensible blessing to the human family, of the love 
 of God, is the result of the teachings and institutions of the church. 
 Silence the teaching's of the church and you remove the only pillar 
 that holds up the love of God to a sinful and perishing race. What¬ 
 ever significance that sublime perfection of the Deity has for a fallen 
 race onlv magnifies the significance of the Christian chiu’ch. Wlmt 
 necessity of the human family rises to such immeasurable jtroportions 
 as that for the love of God, the Crc'ator? AVhat great act in the his- 
 turv of the race sends such light and life through eveiw age and everv 
 clime, as the crowning act of GodA love, in the gift of Christ to the 
 atoning sacrifice of the cross on calvarv? Ask vourselves what were 
 t he mental and moral condition of mankind without the light and 
 1 )ve that stream from the cross of Christ. What is the condition of 
 the absolutely pagan peoples of the world? Compare Christian Eu¬ 
 rope and America with the tribes of Central Africa and New Guinea, 
 and ask yourself what is the great hu'ce that has lifted the one part 
 of the human familv out of the degradation and idolatrv and mourn- 
 ful corruption of the other into a high and glorious civilization. Does 
 nut the consciousness of the race, inhd3l and Christian, ascribe it all 
 
 to the revelation of the love of God bv the Christian church? What 
 
 «/ 
 
 other institution among men is established to proclaim this infinite 
 ])erfectio]i of our Creator, and what truth has such inconceivable sig¬ 
 nificance to a race in the peril of final destruction as this truth of the 
 unfathomable love of God? What jiower can be so mighty to con¬ 
 trol and redeem a moral and accountable race, under the conscious¬ 
 ness of sin, as the jiower of a supreme and holy love? And this is 
 the s})ecial and exclusive province of the church of tlie living God to 
 
11 
 
 j^roclann tliis l( 3 A"e. It is lier ministry whom God lias ordained 'to pub' 
 lish to the sinful race his love. Clear as the sun on the meridian has 
 tlie church made the love of God^ and in its light the race has been 
 coming to repentance and to emancipation from the ]>ower and judg* 
 ment of sin. We may sav further that so far as the exalted arts and 
 
 V V 
 
 industries and commerce of the world are the fruit of a Christian civ' 
 ilizatioip they have had their inception and growth under the teach* 
 ino-s of the church of the livins; God. Ask vourself in what nation 
 originated the art of printing upon metal and movalile type,, of poe* 
 try, the uae of the steam engine, of the railroad, of tlie loom, of the 
 labor saving implements, &c. These are the productions of a Cliris* 
 tian age and clime under the genial inspiration to the human mind 
 and heart, of the constant proclamation of the love of God by his 
 1»rue church. Take away that encouragement from tlie heart of the 
 race and they relapse into the condition of the jiagaii. 
 
 But what is true of the church as the pillar on which rests the 
 li’reat truths of the soverei«'ii and eternal rio-hteousncss and love of 
 God is equally true of the church as the pillar on which rests the truth 
 of the infinite orace of God, which makes the riirhteousness and 
 love of God available for an undcservino- race. What does the human 
 family know of the grace of God but by the teachings of the church 
 of the living God? Grace is the exercise of unmerited favor. It 
 <loes not override righteousness, but delays the execution of right* 
 eousness, interposing opportunities for reconciliation, proposing terms 
 for the recovery of forfeited privileges and mercies. It jirovides a 
 free gift to the offender by which the righteousness of the offended 
 law may be sustained and the offender saved through his faith in, and 
 exceptance of, the free gift. What does the human family know of 
 the possibility of everlasting life and joy at the right hand of God, 
 except through the teachings of the church? What does natural sci¬ 
 ence teach of the recovery of an accountable race from the judgment 
 <lue to their sins? What do the civil statutes of the nations know of the 
 grace that substitutes the voluntary sacrifice of the infinite Son under 
 the sentence of the offended law^ to the offender giving another oppor¬ 
 tunity for everlasting life? Law knows nothing of mercy even, much 
 
12 
 
 less of gTace. Secular learniiig^, as controlled by State authority, is 
 not allowed to enter the domain of theoloo'v, and this most sio-nifi- 
 cant and inestimable truth is made known to mankind alone by the- 
 teachinfTS and institutions of the church of the livino* God. She is 
 
 O O 
 
 the ])illar and ijround of that o^reat truth without which it would be 
 impossible to awaken hope in the human heart. As the bitten Is- 
 laelites must kK>k to the brazen serpent, lifted up by Moses in tlm 
 wilderness, for life, so to Christ, the great propitiatory sacrifice for 
 the sins of the world, as he is held up l>y the church, the human fami¬ 
 ly must look for everlasting life. For whatever of value there is to 
 mankind in these sublime and so-vereio-n truths of the riofhteousness., 
 the love, and the grace of God, they must look to the church of the 
 living God. For whatever of force they shall have in the develop- 
 iiient of the attributes, and the formation of the convictions and char¬ 
 acter of men, we must tlepeiid upon the teachings and practice of 
 the church, and whatever of these grand elements the chinch has ta¬ 
 ken on, must be ascribed to the church of God. The c^hurch is the 
 abiding place, the point of emanation for these vital forces. From 
 the church they are set in motion for the modification, the reoenera- 
 tion, the sanctification and final salvation of men. The great moral 
 and religious forces that are constantly operating for the commercial 
 ])rosperity, the political integ-rity, the social purity, and tlie domestic 
 ]:)eace of the community are set in motion by the church of the living 
 (xod. As sio-nificant of the riohteousness, the love, the oTace of the 
 almighty Creator, are the teachings, tlie services, the sacraments of 
 the true church, as is the flag’ that waves from the impregnable Gib¬ 
 raltar of the strength, the sovereigntv and the civilization of the 
 English nation. 
 
 xVnd now, beloved, you are prepared to estimate something of 
 the significance and worth of the church, the fiftieth anniversary of 
 whose org'anizatioii we celebrate to-dav. AVe ai’rogate nothing when 
 we sat’ that it is a church of the living God, that it has been a pillar 
 and ground of those great fundamental and vital truths bv which the 
 city ill which it is located has been blessed and prospered. AVe do 
 not hesitate to sav that through these fifty years the influence of this 
 
 
 
 / 
 
13 
 
 church has been very significant and benign upon all the material and 
 social and relia’ious interests ol’ the citv. Her teachino's have been 
 in accordance with the wisdom and righteousness and love and grace 
 of God. They have served to hold in check the tendencies to law¬ 
 lessness and crime; they have enforced public morality, stimulated the 
 desire for good government, for commercial integrity, for social puri- 
 ty. Conscience has been enlightened and its judgment enforced. It 
 has carried the peace and piety of our holy religion into many of the 
 homes of the city. It has restrained the youth from the follies and 
 crimes that afflict the homes and communities where church influen¬ 
 ces are not in the ascendant. It has drawn to our city some of the 
 best and most permanent of our business and social element. It hr.s 
 exerted a siirnificant influence on the educational interests of our 
 community. It has been the conservator of good order and peac(', 
 but especially and supremely has it exerted a mighty influence in 
 maintaining these great and fundamental doctrines by which alone is 
 it jiossible to lead men out from under the dominion and condemna¬ 
 tion of sin. It has done a work for this city which no mere secular 
 institution could have done. It has been more to the material, social 
 and Christian prosperity than any single industry could have been. 
 It has been more to the happiness and welfare of our families than 
 any or all of the worldly endowments of a gracious providence could 
 have been without it. It has brouo-ht to us the best returns of all 
 the investments we have made of our worldly substance, and it has 
 brought us into the highest and noblest fellowship of the pure on 
 earth and of the sinless in heaven. 
 
 The church was organized on the 8th day of March, 1820, and 
 consisted of the following eight persons, viz: Asa K. Palmer, M. I)., 
 .losiah Alexander, Elizabeth Alexander, Mary Ann Alexander, Solo¬ 
 mon Gilbert, Sul)mit Gilbert, Lucy Gilbert and Parmela Tomlinson. 
 There is one only among you to-day who joined in the original or¬ 
 ganization fifty years ago. Her mind follows that path again to-day. 
 down which, with holy intent, lead by the embassador for Christ, that 
 little band of eight sincere souls followed to the log school house, 
 where with solemn rites and earnest prayer, this church of the living 
 
u 
 
 \ 
 
 God came into beino’. She has watched its oTOwth, known its histo- 
 ry, sympathised with its trials, rejoiced in its prosperity. To this 
 service she comes to-da}^ with secret emotions into whicli we cannot 
 enter. The venerable father that held her hand that day has long 
 since, with the blessed mother, entered into the fellowship and glorv 
 of the Great Head of the church in the New Jerusalem. One by 
 on.e she has seen each other one of the oriohial eioJit receive the 
 summons, “Come up higher.” Her father, Solomon Gilbert, was the 
 first of the original band to enter into rest. He survived the organi¬ 
 zation twentv-eight vears. 
 
 Dr. Asa K. Palmer was the first ruling elder, elected at the time of 
 the organization of the church. He was a man of earnest purpose, true 
 consecration, liberal and self-sacrificing’ in his service of this church. 
 He studied the interest of the church, and often from his own means 
 supplied what he felt was necessary to the good of the church. He 
 was conscientiously devoted to the relig'ious cultivation of the fami- 
 lies of the church. He was a man of constant religious activity and 
 of great prac/tical wisdom, and his name and graces have remained 
 with us unto this day in the worthy son ui)on whom has fallen his 
 
 t/ c/ 1 
 
 mantle and his office these many yeai-s. The eldership has been in- 
 creased from time to time bv the election of Josiah Alexander, Solo- 
 mon Gilbert, James M. Culbertson, Eben H. Palmer, AVm. P. Chand¬ 
 ler, James P. Brown and Benjamin Crane, up to March, 1876, at 
 which time the church adopted the term service in place of the per¬ 
 manent eldership, and the existing session resigned and the following 
 persons were chosen to constitute the session, viz: Win. P. Chandler, 
 George B. Yeomans, Benjamin Crane, James Risk, E. H. Palmer and 
 Jas. M. Dougherty. By rotation in office the jiresent session has come 
 to consist of William P. Chandler, Eben H. Palmer, George B. Yeo¬ 
 mans, James Risk, William A. Clements and Joel E. Field. The first 
 deacons were A. G. Webster and Samuel Fosselman, and since the 
 term service A. A. McDonald, E. H. Palmer and Elias Good, the last 
 two being the present deacons. The church was organized by Rev. 
 Samuel Baldridge, who served them half of the time for one year. 
 They were then without stated sujiply until January, 1831, when 
 
lo 
 
 Rev. Eiiocli Kingsbury took the charge. With tiie exception of 
 brief intervals, in which the pulpit was occupied by Revs. Nathaniel 
 Kingsbury (his brother), Orrin Cooley, Charles H. Palmer, William 
 R. Palmer, James W. Stark, William A, Hendrickson, David R. 
 Love and Charles P. Felch, he occupied the pulpit for nearly thirty- 
 seven years from January, 1831, to October, 1868, when he ceased 
 from all earthly labor and took the crown of rifrhteousness which the 
 
 *✓ o 
 
 Lord, the righteous Judge, gave him in that day. Of those who have 
 served the church in its pulpit up to the time of the present incum¬ 
 bent all have passed away, exce])t Rn^s. William A. Hendrickson. 
 .James W. Stark, William R. Palmer, Charles P. Felch and David R. 
 Love. Rev. William R. Powers, who came between father Kings¬ 
 bury and the present pastor, finished his work in the ministry of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, and entered into his reward some three 
 years since. The present pastor was called and entered upon the 
 labors of his office in December, 1870. 
 
 There have been received into the cl'.urch since its ornranizi.tiou 
 
 five hundred and seventv-four members, of whom two hundred and 
 
 «/ 
 
 ninety-six united bv letter and two hundred and seventy-eiorht by ex- 
 amination. Since the present pastorate commenced (Dec. 1, 1870.) 
 there have been received two hundred and thirty-seven—one hundred 
 and forty-six by letter and ninety-one on profession. The present 
 membership is two hundred and eighty-seven. 
 
 During the first six years after the organization of the church 
 they were without a house of worship, and held their services some¬ 
 times in the log court house which stood on the ground now occu- 
 ])ied by the building of the Banking and Trust Company, sometimes 
 over a store standing where E. B. Martin’s block now stands, on tl:e 
 south side of the public square, sometimes in a building on the 
 corner of North and Hazel streets, now a vacant lot. But with great 
 personal sacrifice they erected on the lot where the building now 
 stands, it being a part of the homestead of father Kingsbury, their 
 first church building in 1835. This is supposed to have been the 
 second Presbyterian church built on the east side of the State. It is 
 
IG 
 
 supposed that they procured the first church bell which w'as ever 
 brought up the Wabash, and the second in the State. This church build¬ 
 ing w^as used for all public gatherings in the village for many years. 
 It was used also as a school room, being divided by a movable parti¬ 
 tion into two rooms. In this building the church enjoyed great com¬ 
 fort and prosperity until the growTb of the church and the town re- 
 (juired the erection of the present more commodious church edifice. 
 The subscription for the erection of the present edifice was com¬ 
 menced in November, 1856, but the subscription raised at that time 
 b?ing insufficient, it was .suspended until May, 1858, when it w^as 
 a rain circulated by Mr. Richard T. Leverich, and carried up to $i,- 
 125, when it was resolved to build. The largest subscription to the 
 building fund was $il,000, made by elder James M. Culbertson. The 
 board of trustees at the time of building the present edifice, were 
 Benjamin Crane, Levin T. Palmer and William M. Payne. Tin? 
 building was erected and enclosed, and so far finished as to allow^ the 
 basement to be occupied in October, 1850, and was finished and fi¬ 
 nally dedicated on the 24th of December, 1865, on which occasion 
 the sermon of dedication was preached by Dr. .Joseph F. Tiitth^ 
 ])resident of Wabash College. 
 
 Elder .lames M. Culbertson, who died in July, 1864, hift a b(‘- 
 ({uest of 82,000 to be expended in the purchase of a library, one-lialf 
 of which was for the permanent use of the church and the other half 
 f )r the use of the town upon certain conditions, the library to be 
 one and under the care of the church until such conditions should l)e 
 complied with by the people of the town. The library was selected 
 and set up by a committee chosen under the instructions of the be- 
 (paest, consisting of Revs. Enoch Kingsbury and Chas. P. Felch, and 
 Elders James P. Brown, William P. Chandler, Benjamin Crane and 
 E. H. Palmer. The library w^as selected with unusual good judg¬ 
 ment, and for several years was used with great profit by the congn'- 
 gation. 
 
 The organ was obtained by the efibrts of the ladies of tlie con¬ 
 gregation, under the very earnest, persevering, efficient and self-sac¬ 
 rificing leadership of Mrs. Dr. W. H. H. Scott, to whom the church 
 and congregation will ever be grateful. 
 
17 
 
 The parsonage was bought of Col. Win. P. Chandler in Xov. ISdO, 
 at an expense of S4,000. Tlie contributions to the great benevolent 
 work of the church have been quite uniform and comparatively liberal, 
 though there are no records of her benevolent contributions farther 
 back than the present jiastorate. Since the settlement of the present 
 pastor these contributions have amounted to ^7,530.80 ; for congre¬ 
 gational purposes for the same period, including salaries, purchase of 
 parsonage, repairs and current expenses, $31,058. 
 
 It is matter of profound gratitude to our heavenly Father that 
 during these fifty years there have been no great calamities to inter¬ 
 fere with the general prosperity, no personal or domestic discords 
 and strife to break the peace of the church. Brotherly love contin¬ 
 ues, and with the same benign and gracious providences to favor our 
 temporal prosperity" and a consistent consecration of ourselves to the 
 spiritual growth and development of our membership, we shall con¬ 
 tinue to be the pillar and ground of the truth, to the great joy and 
 peace of our posterity and to the material and religious prosperity of 
 our city. 
 
HISTORY OF THE 
 
 # 
 
 SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 KV EKEN II. PALMER. 
 
 It would be exceedino-ly pleasant to me to present to you to-day, 
 on this anniversary occasion, the varied and successive steps of the 
 Sabbath school work of this church from its infancy to the })resent. 
 But I shall have to Idc satisfied with o-ivino- such o-leanino’s as tlie memo- 
 rv of a few and the very incom])lete and scanty records of the school fur- 
 nish. At the commencement of the school such a thino> as a record of 
 its proceedings Avas not inaugurated, and for the past thirty j’ears M’hat 
 I’ccord was made has been almost entirely lost, so that tlie school to¬ 
 day is witliout any cominlete liistory of its doino-s. I shall thei’cfore, in 
 the discliaro-e of this duty allotted to me, be necessarily l)rief. 
 
 Father Kino-sbury, some years before his death, \vrote out a br ief 
 article entitled, “ The early history of Sabbath Schools in Danville.’’ 
 to which I am indebted for some facts M’hich I jrresent to-day. In 
 this he states that the Sabbath school was ooened in the year 1828, 
 
 X *J 
 
 and that Lemuel Tomlinson, who a short time preyious came to this 
 ])lace from the State of New York, was the principal one in the es- 
 tablishino- of the school. He was the founder of the school and may 
 be rightly designated as the first superintendent, although not elect¬ 
 ed, as now is the custom, to the office. He was yery actiye and de¬ 
 voted in the work, and not only organized this school but also started 
 two other schools, one at Brooks’ Point and another about two miles 
 south of here. This last school he was obliged to give up, inasmuch 
 as they would not allow him to open the school with prayer. They 
 
10 
 
 were willing that the children should be taught to read, but had no 
 desire or wish for religious instruction. This probably was a type of 
 in.iny of the settlements at an early date. 
 
 The first Sabbath school was held in what was then the court 
 house, which was on the corner where now stands the banking house 
 (jf the Danville Banking and Trust Company. Not having any ])er- 
 manent abiding place, it was afterwards moved to the second story of 
 the old frame building which stood where now is E. Ik iMartirrs brick 
 block. This, however, was not the end of its pilgrimage. We find 
 it next occupying what many of us have been accustomed to call the 
 old log school house, which was situated on the west side of Franklin 
 street, where now stands Dr. Brown’s residence. As far as I can as¬ 
 certain the school remained here until the Presbyterian church, 
 erected in 1834, was opened for worship and for the use of the school, 
 ddiis was the first permanent abiding place the school had, and here 
 it continued until this house was lauilt. The school in its ])eginnin.g 
 numbered about twenty in all, scholars and teachers, and was com- 
 })Osed almost entirely of the families of Solomon Gilbert, .Tosiah Alex¬ 
 ander and Asa R. Palmer. One who was a member of that school is 
 here with us to-dav. 
 
 In the year 1830 Walter Clark, from Pennsylvania, came here 
 and took an active part in the Sabbath school, in conjunction with 
 Mr. Tomlinson. Mr. Tomlinson died in 1830 and Mr. Clark in 1831. 
 After the death of Mr. Tomlinson the school was left in charge of mv 
 father, Asa R. Palmer, who continued to be its leader until the or¬ 
 ganization of the Union Sabbath School, concerning which I will 
 speak in proper place. After the school had been in progress a year 
 or so there came to its assistance others, who in the tide of emigra¬ 
 tion located here. Among these were two sisters of Gurdon S. 
 Hubbard. They came into the school and rendered yaluable assist- 
 
 t/ 
 
 ance as teachers. One of these ladies had in her class two Indian 
 boys, one the son of a prophet, the other the son of a chief. It would 
 to us now present a yery novel scene. Mr. Kingsbury also relates 
 that during the summer of 1831 a few Pottawottamie Indians, who 
 
20 
 
 inhabiteel this region, attended the Sabbath scdiool, and seemed quite 
 interested in knowino- somethino; of the relio'ion of the Bible. 
 
 Durino- the year 1831, a few months after Mr. Kino-sbury came 
 here and commenced ]:)reaching, our church united with the Metho¬ 
 dist families of the place and organized a Union Sabbath School. 
 This at that time was deemed best for the good of the cause, ihere 
 not being sufficient material to 0 ]:)erate with success two schools. 
 This school, I am informed, was conducted by my brother, E. F. Pal¬ 
 mer, and sustained and kept in operation by the more actiye members 
 of the t'.vo different denominations, they not only send!no- their chil- 
 dren but attendino- themselves. 
 
 O 
 
 Another incident is related. A colored woman was brouo-ht into 
 
 O 
 
 the school and learned to spell and read a little. AVhen she had 
 learned enough to spell the name of Jesus, she exclaimed in her joy, 
 “ O, missus, I'se so glad I can spell Jesus.” 
 
 Darino' these days of the infancy of the school it was not num- 
 bered among the popular institutions, and even sneered at by some, 
 looking upon it as a very foolish affair. There were even some who 
 called themselves ministers of the Gospel, who arrayed themselves 
 against it and endeavored to bring it into disrepute. 
 
 ddie instruction of the early school was entirely different from 
 
 c •. 
 
 the present, being yery simple and without yariety. The time wr s 
 mostly occupied in teaching those to read who could not read, and in 
 readino- verse about in the Testament with those who could reed. 
 Question books had not then come into use, the teachers asking such 
 questions and making such comments as they saw })roper. Singing 
 did not form an inspiring element of the school then. No sweet 
 songs adapted to the young had begun their course of ]iower and in¬ 
 fluence. The old church psalmody and metre was all there was to 
 wake up the young heart to praise and melody. But notwithstand¬ 
 ing all these now, to us, seeming adveisities of th.ose times, eternity 
 only will I’eveal the influence for o-ood in withholdino- those childnm 
 and youth from pernicious ])ractices, and in directing their footste])s 
 in the ])aths of virtue and usefulness. 
 
21 
 
 The first library the school had was procured iVorii the American 
 Sunda}^ School Union. It was a ten dollar lil^rary. The school rais¬ 
 ed and paid five dollars and the Sunday School Union contributed 
 the other five dollars. This to the school w-as quite an event, and 
 probably more highly prized than our more expensive and elaborate 
 library of the present day, imparting to the scholars new life and in¬ 
 terest. It was from this librarv that I obtained my first Sundav 
 school literature, and although they were books which the average 
 Sunday school scholar of these days would pass by without any re¬ 
 gard or attention, yet they contained within their plain binding and 
 covers instruction better adapted to the wants of the soul than most 
 of the beautifullv adorned books that are no'.v so eaccerlv souj^ht after 
 in our modern libraries. 
 
 The special entertainments which are now provided for the grati¬ 
 fication of the school, and for which the vouner look with such interest, 
 were not known forty years ago. But there was a practice which 
 was continued several years, of having a Sunday school celebration on 
 the 4th of July, selecting as the orator of the day some be> 3 ^ of the 
 school and some one to read the Declaration of Independence. In¬ 
 terspersed with these exercises were music and other things to enliven 
 the occasion, ending with a good dinner. 
 
 After the Union Sabbath School had been sustained about ten 
 years the Methodist church organized a Sabbath school of their own, 
 taking with them a large number of the school, inasmuch as their de- 
 nomination was the most numerous. 
 
 In consequence of this division our church was left with but a 
 small number to commence again as a denomination their school. 
 The life and operation of the school became de})endent upon Mr. 
 Kingsbur}^ and some of the older persons of the church, whom we 
 have heretofore mentioned as aiding in its prosperity. There, how¬ 
 ever, came to their relief in the course of a short time valuable as¬ 
 sistance from some who were engaged as teachers in the day school. 
 Prominent among these were J. K. Morse, Miss C. E. Bo we and Mrs. 
 Eleanor Miller. The earnest devotion of Mrs. Miller I shall never 
 
22 
 
 forget. Her marked piety and untiring energy in the school I shall 
 always remember. She was a lady whose heart was in every good 
 work, and not afraid to advocate the cause of truth and righteousness, 
 either in or out of school. But these and other persons who from 
 time to time came to our aid, one by one left our village, and seem¬ 
 ingly leaving the school in a very feeble condition, and requiring it 
 again to be kept in life and continuance by those who had so long- 
 been its stay and suj)port. 
 
 After this the greater burden and responsibility of maintaining 
 the school came to rest with iMr. Kingsbury and wife, until help came 
 ill the maturitv of some who had in their early davs been scholars. 
 
 V ^ kJ ' 
 
 but coming into the fellowship of the church, also came to the labors 
 of the Sabbath school. Among these were Miss Emma Alexander 
 and Miss Clara Palmer. They, together with Mrs. Kingsbury, work¬ 
 ed amid many discouragements, serving in every capacity necessary 
 f ir the interest of the school, having sometimes to open the school 
 themselves witli prayer, there being no male member of the churcli 
 ]) resent. 
 
 About the vear ISdS there came to the aid of the school, in 
 the person of James M. Culbertson, one who imparted new life and 
 energy to the cause. From this time the school began to prosper, 
 and increased rapidly its numbers. Previous to this time there had 
 never been any regularly elected superintendent. Mr. Culbertson was 
 the first person elected to fill that office, and for some time was not 
 only the sinierintendent, but the main support of the school, giving 
 Tint only his time, but means in abundance. He was endowed with 
 that ]ieculiar executive ability that gave him the full confidence of, 
 and control over, all in connection with the school. Firm and deci¬ 
 ded in all his convictions of what was right, he would never compro¬ 
 mise principle in the interest of any policy. He left nothing undone 
 which he could do to make the school interesting and attractive, often 
 giving entertainments to the school at his own expense. Under his 
 leadership the school was first provided with a full corps of officers, 
 and established monthly concerts and teachers’ meetings. He ha 1 a 
 
remarkable faculty of pressing into service every availa])le perscn 
 and enlisting even the most timid into prominent work and Ijringing 
 them to feel at home in the school. 
 
 At the time he took charge of the school, as before mentioned, 
 the church being feeble and few in numbers, it seemed necessary to 
 go outside of the church to supply the existing demand for teachers. 
 In consequence of which many who were not professors of religion, 
 but bearing a goo<l moral character, were from time to time employed 
 as teachers. The result of this experiment in the emergency ©f that 
 time proved very gratifying, inasmuch as a large majority of those 
 who remained with us afterwards come to profess tlieir faith in Christ 
 and became useful members of some orthodox church. 
 
 For some time before his death, Avhich occurred in 1801, ]Mr. 
 Culbertson became an invalid and was away from the city much of 
 
 t/ 
 
 the time. But wheneyer here, and in suitable health, he was always 
 in the Sabbath school. The school at his death lost a yaluable friend 
 and an earnest worker, he haying often times in the hour of its need 
 come to its assistance. 
 
 Between the years 1848 and 1800, besides Mr. Cul])ertson, the 
 office of superintendent was filled respectiyely by Mr. Cooley, A. E. 
 Howe, N. A. Prentiss, John Jones, Dr. Hubbard, A. D. Strong, Col. 
 Win. P. Chandler and Eben H. Palmer. Of this number all are still 
 living except Cooley, Jones and Hubbard. Jones died in 1857 and 
 Dr. Hubbard in 1858. 
 
 Of those who have served the school as officers, and not hereto¬ 
 fore mentioned, I call to mind the followino;: 
 
 SUPERIXTENDEXTS. 
 
 Mr. Seymour, 
 J. W. Stark, 
 W. P. Black, 
 
 J. P. Brown, A. Sargent, 
 
 C. B. Holloway, J. L. McNair, 
 
 Geo. B. Yeomans, C. M. Taylor, 
 
 J. E. Field. 
 
^4 
 
 ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS. 
 
 S. Fosselman, 
 
 J. P. Brown, 
 
 J. G. Kinorsburv, 
 
 A. A. 
 
 E. H. Palmer, 
 Dr. Field, 
 James Risk, 
 McDonald. 
 
 Charles Wall, 
 
 C. B. Hollowar.- 
 
 */ '' 
 
 John Lane, 
 
 J. E. Field. 
 
 SECRETARIES. 
 
 E. H. Palmer, 
 
 R. C. Nichols, 
 
 R. McCormack, 
 
 S. D. Kingsbury, 
 John Lane, 
 
 M. R. ^yright, 
 Frank Gilbert, 
 A. Mathews, 
 
 A. A. McDonald, 
 Samuel Merrill, 
 
 Frank N. Palmer. 
 
 N. 
 
 William Martin, 
 J. H. Palmer, 
 Will. Watson, 
 George Palmer, 
 Ernest Steen, 
 
 F, Kimball. 
 
 TREASURERS. 
 
 3Iiss Prince, 
 
 Miss Belle Murphy, 
 
 Mrs. Annie M. Swan, 
 R. McCormack, 
 
 Miss Belle Gilbert. 
 
 T. M. Prince. 
 C. E. Crane, 
 
 LIBRARIANS. 
 
 William Forbes, 
 
 ^L R. Wright, 
 
 J. B. Mann. 
 
 Charles Rust, R. C. Nichols, 
 
 E. H. Palmer, C. J. Palmer, 
 
 Charles E. Crane. 
 
 There are no doubt some others whom I have failed to remem- 
 iier. If so, it is for want of anything to refresh my mind. Should 
 be pleased had I been able to obtain a full and complete list of all 
 tlie officers. Of these all are living as far as we know except T. M. 
 Pi ince, Wm. Forbes, A. Sargent, Charles Wall, Frank M. Gilbert,. 
 Samuel Fosselman and Miss Belle Murph}- (late Mrs. J. W. Wliite). 
 
 Durinix the last thirtv vears we have had manv faithful teachers, 
 who have been with us for a time and then removed to other places, 
 enterins: with the same zeal and earnestness into the work with those 
 with whom their lot was cast. 
 
In tho only records vvliich I find, embracing tlic years from 1807 
 to 1870, inclusive, it appears that the average attendance of these 
 years was as follows : 1807, 155 ; 1808, 100; 1800, 151; 1870, 125. 
 The averao:e attendance durino- the last twenty or twentv-five years, 
 I think, has not varied much. Sometimes more and other times less. 
 
 Twenty years ago there were but two Sabbath schools in the city 
 —ours and the Methodist. But as our city has grown other churclu'S 
 have come into existence which have established their schools, necessa¬ 
 rily takino’ some from our ranks as well as from other schools. 
 
 O 
 
 Throuijhout the whole history of the school there has been mani- 
 tested great unanimity of feeling, good will and charity. Officers 
 and teachers have worked together in harmony. With us there have 
 oftentimes been many of other denominations giving us the hel]:)ing 
 hand and toilino: to do o'Ood. 
 
 The long line of influences which has been developed through 
 this half century of Sabbath school work, time will never reveal. The 
 little ball set in motion in 1828 has rolled alono’ each successive year 
 through difficulties and over obstacles, sometimes moving slowly, and 
 then again more rapidly, until to-day it appears in the accumulated ac¬ 
 quisitions of fifty years, with a strength and power we need not be 
 ashamed of, verifying to us the fact that God watches with careful 
 eye over the labors of his children. While we may rejoice to-day in 
 the })rivileges we enjoy, let us remember that the glory of all this 
 work is due to the kind care of Him who has watered the seed sown 
 by the wayside and given it its increase. 
 
 Before closing, there is oiie fact in the history of the school 1 
 wish to bring to notice, viz ; Those persons who, with their families, 
 (;om])rised the first school and were its stay and main support have 
 not been without some representative in the persons of their descend¬ 
 ants from then to the present time. And to-day there are numbered 
 among us in the pale of the Sabbath school, sons and daughters, 
 gi’and children and great-grand children, of those whose names are 
 first on our chui’ch roll, and whose hearts were first in the work of 
 
26 
 
 establishiijg the feet of the young in the paths of righteousness. 
 These names will appear, and history given, in the papers which fol¬ 
 low, but their memories will be sacred to those who knew them best. 
 
 I, and many others here, will not witness the return of another 
 such anniversary. Some of our children may. I hope they will. 
 
 I feel constrained, in behalf of our school, to congratulate these 
 our friends who witnessed and took part in our early school, that a 
 kind Providence has preserved them to be with us to-da}'. You, no 
 doubt, in your minds wander back to the scenes of the long past, and 
 there comes to vour memory afresh the recollection of those who with 
 you sat in Christian love and fellowship, and with open Bible sought 
 to direct the footsteps of a few in the paths of safety. And while 
 you mingle with us in the joyous outcome of this small beginning, I 
 doubt not there comes to you a feeling of sadness as you look around 
 and see that that little company are all gone and you alone are left to 
 I’epresent the pioneer school. Notwithstanding this, there cannot but 
 remain with you the satisfaction that the wilderness has been made to 
 l)lossom as the rose, and that they who “ have ended life’s lirief story 
 have reached the home of glory, over death victorious, while you on 
 the river sailing fast, will meet them forever on more holy, hapjiy 
 ground.”. 
 
 In conclusion, let us who are to-day enjoying the blessings which 
 flow down from that little company’s faith, resolve that with cheerful 
 hearts and ever-willing hands, we will work for God and h'llo'.v his 
 vommands, resting assured that 
 
 “ ’Tis the faithful souls that reap the bright reward 
 in the coming of the Lord.” 
 
REMINISCENCES OF 
 
 Rev. Enoch Kingsbury. 
 
 KV .AJR.S. ANNIE .M. SWAN. 
 
 Enoch Kinosbury was born in Eanotlon, X. II , in 1800. His 
 parents were natives of Tollarul, Ct., and when this son was Init a 
 lad retraced their steps as far as to Ainlierst, Mass., where they re* 
 niained permanently. Livino^ in the immediate vi(*inity of the cob 
 lege, the subject of our sketch did not fail to profit by such advanta¬ 
 ges as are open to all who chose to avail themselves of them. Ulti¬ 
 mately he entered Amherst college, graduating in the class of ’27. 
 13y teaching and doing what.soever his hands found to do, he had thus 
 far wrought out his own way. Now, being desirous of entering tlie 
 ministry, and giving unusual promise of Christian usefulness, the 
 Education Society ” assisted in his course at Auburn Theological 
 SeminarvN Here, as many times before, was foreshadowed the future. 
 Going home at vacation he started on foot, a distance of two to three 
 hundred miles, getting on with such occasional rides as in those days 
 were not infrequent. 
 
 While at Auburn he suffered from that couo’h which followed 
 him through life. The faculty, fearing that his days of service were 
 to be few, recommended an early license to preach as a mutual ad¬ 
 vantage, the destitute churches profiting by his labors and himself 
 gaining by the more active life. But health was not so easily won ; 
 and so in sornpany with George Washington Lane and James Brain- 
 ard Taylor, those two young men of rare gifts and Christian graces, 
 lie went South, Mr. K\s case seeming the most critical of the three, 
 
ret Be alone survivino- and ever esteeinlno: it amono' his choicest 
 privileges, that of ministering to the .comfort of those, his compan¬ 
 ions in sufFei-ing, and witnessing their sweet resignation, yea, exult¬ 
 ant joy^ as earth receded. 
 
 Ready to embrace any opportunity for usefulness or improve¬ 
 ment, he connected himself wjth the Union Theological Seminary of 
 \drginia, while it seemed best he should remain South, After his 
 return to Massachusetts he preached to several churches in that State^ 
 and was invited to settle at Grar.by, but declined acceptance. 
 
 In Xovember, 1830, he was married to Miss Fanny Goodwin, of 
 Simsburv, Connecticut, and to 2 :ether they left for a home in the west, 
 ^Ir. K. under appointment of tlie American Home Missionary Socie¬ 
 ty. Southern Indiana was in view as a location, but Providence had 
 other desio’us. Arrivino’ bv boat at Cincinnati Saturdav niolit, thev 
 left the boat to pass the Sabbath there. By mistake a lawyer on 
 board took tlie box of theological books, leaving in return his box of 
 law books, so they decided to take the next boat and pursue. Making 
 a brief stop at Madison, Rev. Mr. Johnson strongly urged their go¬ 
 ing up the Wabash. As the boat was bound thither, they yielded to 
 liis advice, arriving at Eugene about Chrit^tmas. A few days after. 
 Mr. Solomon Gilbert called on them and earnestlv besought them to 
 come to Danville. Mr, K. came up and preached the second Sal)- 
 bath in .lanuarv, 1831, but did not remove hither till tlie year follow- 
 ing. 
 
 The lot on which both churcli and parsonage were built was- 
 (‘arly secured by him for that purjiose. AVe well remember the fare¬ 
 well services in that church during Mr. Palmer’s pastorate, Mr. K, 
 giving an historical discoui'se. At the close Mr. Jesse Gilbert, then 
 aged and inhrm, arose and said *, “ 1 may not be able to make you 
 hear me, but I wish to sav' that while what Air. K. has said is true, 
 there is also much true that lie has not said ; that mostly lie built 
 this house with his own hands and on his own land ; that he jirocured 
 the bell, usually rang it, liuilt the fires, &c. This same building was 
 used as a sclux:)! house. Air. K. procuring teachers, and, when unable 
 
29 
 
 
 to do so, teaching hitiiself. This, too, while aiding the destitute set¬ 
 tlements in all this re<z:ion, and we al)le to render him hut small com- 
 ])ensation (about a hundred dollars a year).’’ Such was “Lncle Jes¬ 
 se’s” testimony. 
 
 For more than twenty years this church was aided by the Ameri- 
 
 */ k/ 
 
 can Home Missionary Society, except sometimes when iMr. K, refused 
 the stipend in favor of greater need, as he th.ought. 
 
 Between him and the secretary of that society the most intimatt^ 
 
 V V 
 
 and confidential relations existed, not only as regarded this church, 
 but in organizing others and gaining for them supplies from the sn- 
 ciety, they depending largely on his judgment in such cases. 
 
 Among those churches he performed a great amount of labor, 
 going those long distances, oyer bad roads, or no roads at all, often 
 in the darkness and exposed to storms, sometimes passing a shelter¬ 
 less night, crossing swollen creeks at the expense of dry clothing, his 
 j)reaching station often a cabin, subject to eyery annoyance. \ et 
 how seldom did he sj)eak of these things—neyer as hardships. 
 these self-denying journeys, often subject to accident, his great me¬ 
 chanical skill was frequently brought into exercise—a skill always 
 available, whether as applied to a broken harness, a buggy in the 
 slough, the improvising of a farming implement or building a cai- 
 riage. 
 
 Except utter })rostration in himself or sickness in his family, no 
 untoward circumstances ever prevented his keeping an appointment. 
 Yet who that saw that slight furni and heard that torturing cough, 
 but would have said : “ill-chosen for a pioneer preacher.” But just 
 here was, in some measure, his strength. Those quick and delicate 
 perceptions and ready sympathies, won for him an entrance to regard, 
 while his evident suffering enlisted sympathy. Then he wais always 
 hopeful and cheerful, with the ability to appear utterly obliyious of 
 surroundings, and forgetful of ease and comfort. To do good to 
 these many he must ayail himself of whateyer hospitalities came in 
 his path. If the liouse afforded abundance, with luxuries even, it 
 
30 
 
 was appreciated ; if the supplies in the cabin were meagre, it was 
 just as kindly received. A good lady, prizing these calls as almost 
 her only religious privilege, remarked that “ it was very fortunate 
 that Mr. Kingsbury usually preferred bread and milk, when very 
 (^ften it was the only food in the house.” With the elements of pow¬ 
 er thus indicated, he was ready to breast the wave, and could debark 
 at many a port where one of a more pretentious bearing would have 
 been thrust back. 
 
 Then, too, he was eminently a reformer. In the causes of tern- 
 })erance and anti-slavery he was an advance guard, and in the latter 
 when it was extremely unpopular to be so. In those early da^’s of 
 comparatively few newspapers, and any intercourse beyond a narrow 
 circle very difficult, it was left to the ]3ublic speaker largely to mould 
 the public sentiment. Xot only did Mr. K. use his privilege in the usual 
 i-outine of his ])rofession, but he was a master in polemics. If there 
 came one settino’ forth doctrines subversive of truth and rio-hteous- 
 ness, there followed a public discussion. The (juiet pastor’s cpiiver ' 
 was always full—the arrows made of truth. 
 
 Given a conviction of right, and though ‘‘ four hundred and 
 fifty” prophets opposed, he would not falter for an instant. Careful 
 in laying down his premises, he was never off his guard or taken at 
 a disadvantage. Though cjuick to see and profit by any weakness in 
 his opponent, there was not a shade of triumph, but the arguments 
 were hurled with the coolness of the philosopher. Mr, H. W. Beck¬ 
 with, among other items for which w^e are indebted to him, recalls a 
 debate upon slavery in the old church, tw^o prominent citizens taking 
 the pro-slavery side of the question. “ Large numbers attended, and 
 it was a matter of astonishment,” adds our informant, “that one like 
 Mr. K. could be found bold enough to advocate the “anti” side of the 
 (piestion. It was simply sublime to see him stand alone in a cause 
 so obnoxious. Violence w^as often threatened, but never executed.” 
 Ilis evident sincerity, his perfect control of temper under the most 
 vindictive attacks, in great measure disarmed bitterness, especially so 
 as to his opponents. In every other relation he was ever the affable. 
 
31 
 
 i)l)ligiiig friend. Though able thus “above himself to erect himself," 
 the rejection of truth and right was not a matter xjf indifference to 
 him. Once, in a sermon, he'borrowed an illustration from slavery or 
 its effects. This was a signal for some to leave the church. Meeting 
 him soon after, the imjuiry was : “ How did you feel when they left 
 you in that way ?” “It matters little to me”; but with a look of in¬ 
 describable sadness, added, “How can they treat the Savior so? calb 
 ed by his name, yet turning their faces from what is involved in his 
 tenderest teachings.” 
 
 This simple faith, this love of righteousness and hatred of op¬ 
 pression in whatever form, was nurtured and fostered in childhood. 
 His father was for many years a deacon in the first church at Am¬ 
 herst, one whom even the students regarded as a most godly man, 
 with a wonderful gift and power in prayer. A sister of the family 
 once remarked that the recollections of home were never so vivid, so 
 pleasant as on Saturday night. At the motnent of sunset all labor 
 was suspended, and the large family gathered for reading, conversation 
 and instruction—a preparation for the Sabbath. Who can calculate 
 the good effects of such an observance upon the minds and habits of 
 
 a family ? 
 
 %/ 
 
 It may not be inappropriate here to refer to another member of 
 the family. Rev. Nathaniel Kingsbury, who, because of loss of voice, 
 left a desirable pastorate in Mount Vernon, X. H., and came west, 
 hoping the change might be beneficial, as indeed it proved, he very 
 soon being able to assist his brother both here and at the out-stations, 
 and even for a time to have a charge in another part of the State. 
 
 And methinks there are some who will ask, “ Is there not a word 
 for Mrs. K., his wife, who lies in yonder cemetery?” A woman of 
 rare Christian culture, gentle and unselfish, desiring most of all,* for 
 herself and others, a holy life. 
 
 To resume ; His sermons were plain expositions of gospel truth 
 —“Christ and Him crucified” the ground of our faith; obedience, 
 the evidence of it. In these themes he was alwavs at home, always 
 
 t, / V 
 
reacTy, althoDgli he could but seldom command the time to write the 
 discourses of which he was capable. However desirable it was, other 
 duties pressed in a wa^^ that this must yield. Though clear and sound 
 in Christian doctrine, he was eminentlv catholic. In his intercourse 
 with other denominations he had but to know that they were anchored 
 in the 3d chapter of John, and their clergy were bid welcome to hiS' 
 jiulpit. To the last he was strongly attached to the ecclesiastical 
 connection of his fathers, yet truly loyal to the church of his- adop- 
 tion, ever watchful of her purity, her interests, and seldom absent 
 tVom her stated g’u.therings. For nearly thirty years he vras clerk of 
 the AVabash Presb\'terv. Mountino” his horse he would, in some in- 
 instances, ride across the State to attend the meeting of Sniod. 
 
 He shared largelj" in the love, res|>ect and confidence of his breth¬ 
 ren in the ministry. His good sense, large experience, his versatility 
 and self-forgetfulness combined to make Tim the wise and ready 
 
 counselor among his fellow-workers, 
 
 > 
 
 In the cause of education he ever took a foremost part, sparing'^ 
 no pains to obtain good teachers and comfortable school rooms, send¬ 
 ing to Amherst, where he was so well known, for teachers, as the 
 professors said, ‘‘always aiming to get the best.” ^yitness Mr. Pren¬ 
 tiss, the beloved teaclier, now pastor of a Congregational churcli in. 
 Aurora, 
 
 Illinois and Wabash colleges shared lai-gely in his efforts anti 
 sympathies. The latter, especially, being: nearer and hp,ving many of 
 1 )anvill.e*'s sons in lier classes. 
 
 A.S' a friend and neighbor he was kind and faithful, ministering- 
 with sfreat tact and delicacy to the “ wearv and heavy laden.” In- 
 
 C_’ c t/ 
 
 Stance his teirder thoughtfulness for n-ood Mrs. Pj-ince and her son., 
 extending over nxire than a geii'eratian of years. 
 
 With very limited income otit of which to provide for his family 
 and educate his children (and in this he devised liberal things), yet 
 what case of need or suffering ever went unaided from his door? and 
 what cause of Christian beneficence was ever forgertten? 
 
^3 
 
 With his fc‘llo\v-citizcns the most easy and ])leasant relations ex¬ 
 isted. Going, man}" years since, to the Salt-works, Mr. K. l)eing one 
 of' the party, he called attention to a beautiful wood and said : “ 1 was 
 passing home this way one Saturday evening, noticing this lot, and 
 M rs. K. having just received a little remittance from the old home, T 
 decided to go to the land office Monday and secure it. The next 
 evening I preached upon the 4th commandment. Monday morning 
 went to the office and entered the land. The business was just fin¬ 
 ished when Mr. Daniel Beckwith came in and inquired about tlx* 
 same land. Learning who had it, he turned to me and said : “Yes¬ 
 terday, contrary to my usual custom, I rode with a friend into the 
 country and observing that timber I intended this morning to possess 
 it. I went to church in the evenins: and Grot lashed for breakino- the 
 Sabbath ; not content vvith that, you have also taken my land.” 
 
 After more than twentv vears of continuous labor, Mr. K. felt 
 that there were those who desired a new voice in the pulpit. Witli- 
 out a word he yielded his place, giving himself more unreservedly to 
 missionary work. Whenever there was an interim in the j)astorate 
 his services were always desired and with ever increasing interest. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. K. received each successive pastor and their fami¬ 
 lies with the utmost cheerfulness and cordiality, unobtrusivelv aidiim- 
 them as the best of parishioners, never a particle of jealousy to mar 
 the intercourse. 
 
 We call to mind an evenino- in the old clmrch when Rev. Mr. 
 Palmer asked his opinion upon some measure under consideration. 
 Mr. K. replied : “ I can tell you what I think, but I wish to do it in 
 a way that will leave you perfectly free to act as you choose. I was 
 once,” added he, “ invited to settle over a church wdiere there was an 
 aged pastor too infirm for its labors ; he wished me to stay, and 1 
 had about made up my mind to do so. Speaking of the matter at 
 one time he remarked, ‘you must increase, but I must decrease.’ 1 
 could not stay and be a constant witness of such sadness, decided so 
 at once, and then and there resolved never to be the cause of a like 
 experience.” How faithfully he kept that resolution some ])rescnt 
 can testify. 
 
From 1853 to 1857 he made several journeys to Xew York, ta- 
 kiiio; at each time liomeless children from the various asvlums, brino-- 
 ing them west and seeing them provided with homes. Several hun¬ 
 dred were thus distributed in this region, and he ever looked back 
 upon this work with peculiar satisfaction. 
 
 In about 1859 he went to Kansas, preparatory, as he felt, to 
 removing there and taking up his loved work anew. But soon the 
 dark war cloud appeared, and in the momentous events that followed 
 lie was no idle spectator. ^Yhen called to take a last look of Edward 
 (you all know what he was—how desirable), as the casket stood in the 
 aisle before us, Mr. Love said, “Have \"Ou anything to add, Mr. KV” 
 “ Yes, I have. I had thought this son to be the staff of my old age ; 
 h.e was very dear to me, but I h^id rather see him lie here, fallen in 
 the cause of freedom, than to have him live and revel in wealth and 
 luxury, the fruit of unrequited labor.” 
 
 As a mark of respect he was given, during Mr. Lincoln’s presi¬ 
 dency, the conduct of the Danville post-office. And we would not 
 forget a pleasant occasion that cheered him not a little when his 
 friends surprised him b}^ their presence in unusual numbers, and left 
 for him and Mrs. K. mementos at once useful and valuable. 
 
 In '66 and ’67, he went, first, to Alabama, and a second time to 
 (reorgia and South Carolina, under the auspices of the American 
 Missionary Association, to teach the freedmen and aid whoever he 
 might in truly overcoming their disabilities. He- arrived out Satur¬ 
 day night, preached Sunday and opened a school Monday. Twice 
 he acted as judge of elections, no other Union man competent to do. 
 so daring to do it. -.Once, for the same reason, he returned the ballot, 
 going alone through the woods, i]o one willing even to accom})any him. 
 ^Yhile there his correspondence with different papers was most inter¬ 
 esting. Tliose letters from South Carolina (read in the light of a ten- 
 year’s history) seem very like ])ro])liecy. 
 
 He returned from his last sojourn there in .Tidy, 1868. P'inding 
 this church, so dear to him, without a ])astor and somewhat in per- 
 
])Iexity, his latest breath was spent in her interests. Rev. Mr. Black, 
 of the Wabash Presbytery, writing after his (Mr. K.’s) death, says : 
 “As we were returning from the meeting of Synod at Springfield, I 
 thought he seemed particularly cheerful, and, with all his old enthu¬ 
 siasm, was arranging with me to assist him a series of meetings at 
 1 )anville a little subse(|uent.” 
 
 But soon there was evidently failino- streno-th. The last sermon he 
 
 •/ Cj 
 
 preached, the Sabbath but one before his death, he felt would be his 
 last. All noticed his increased debility. But he had a great desire 
 to preach on that day, and did not sympathize with the feeling that 
 the exertion had been too much. Thus serving actually to the last 
 and among his own people, the few remaining days being but a little 
 rest before he should take his peaceful, happy departure for that 
 blessed home where the service (such a delight to him here) would 
 be evermore without weariness. 
 
REMINISCENCES OF DECEASED 
 
 ORIGINAL MEMBERS. 
 
 r>Y MRS. FAXXY KIXGSBURY. 
 
 In the annals of our history no event is so luminous, and awa- 
 kens such profound gratitude, as the organization of the Presbyterian 
 church in this place. Before entering upon the contemplation of the 
 characters which formed the nucleus of this interesting body, we 
 shall be pardoned for lingering a few moments upon the desolate con¬ 
 dition of those disciples who found themselves in a strange land, 
 without church privileges or ministerial counsel. It was a small band ; 
 few and feeble they were ; nevertheless they felt the need ©f sustain¬ 
 ing grace and a controlling desire to manifest their reliance on their 
 invisible but ever-present Friend. This was motive sufficient to in¬ 
 spire them Vvith a resolution to acknowledge publicly their belief 
 in the power and protection of their Creator, and their wish to be 
 his and his only, to conform to his precepts, and to do his will. 
 
 \ The importance of their covenanting together in church rela¬ 
 tionship is beyond human comprehension. Its influence cannot be 
 measured in time ; eternity alone will disclose the amount of its use¬ 
 fulness. It has been favored of God himself, been under his especial 
 care, watched over and refreshed from time to time by his Spirit, and 
 inasmuch as his followers have honored him by worshiping in his 
 temple, and calling themselves by his name, so he blesses them by 
 his presence in his house of worship) and by their firesides. We can 
 imagine how forlorn our fathers were, deprived of the privilege of 
 seatinor themselves around the table of their Lord, and their desire oi 
 
^7 
 
 <00111 inemoratinc: liis dvins’ love. But this movement was not for 
 tliemselves alone. The little vine then planted has g’rovvn and spread, 
 giving encouragement to many who have passed avvay, and present¬ 
 ing the lamp of life to numbers who would have remained in dark¬ 
 ness without the knowledge or love of the truth. In much weakness 
 and many discouragements, its course has ever been onward, ith 
 small additions from time to time, in the fluctuating state of society 
 then existing, and occasional removals which made inroads upon its 
 prosjierity, the Good Shepherd has been mindlul ot his flock ; and 
 thougli sometimes almost desjiairing, we may rejoice that its light has 
 not been extinguished, but ever illumined by the star of hope. It is 
 no less a blessing to us that their own souls were benefited by their 
 union in Christian fellowship, and we would at this distant day olfer 
 ■our praisets and thanksgivings to the Great Head of tlie church for 
 preparing the hearts of his children, and opening the way for the es- 
 talilishment of his church among us. 
 
 Our first elders were eminently men of prayer, of deep devotion, 
 of pure lives and honest purpose, sincerely desirous of the enlarge¬ 
 ment of Christ’s kingdom, and willing to make all needful sacrifices 
 for the accomplishment of this object. 
 
 Dii. Asa R. Pai.mek, the first elder chosen, had sustained the same 
 relation in a church in the State of New^ York, He was one of the 
 worthy men of earth. Love aJid zeal in the cause of his Master 
 were striking characteristics wdiich marked his coui'se. He gave wil¬ 
 lingly, cheerfully, of time, of money, of influence to advance the in¬ 
 terests of the Redeemer’s kingdom. His extensive reading and full 
 information of the wants of others, enabled him to bestow his bene¬ 
 factions Judiciously and in the manner best calculated to accomplish 
 the desired result. His early home w'as in the quiet country town of 
 Coventry, Conn. Few places exercise such strict surveillance over 
 the habits of children as are observed in that region. Parents and 
 teachers watch untiringly over the morals of those committed to their 
 care, that improper literature may be prohibited, that biblical cate¬ 
 chisms and portions of Scripture be committed to memory, that so 
 
38 
 
 far as Is possible the Sabbath shall be faithfully kept, worldly speech 
 and thoughts discountenanced, and the day spent in stri(;t obedience 
 to the 4th comma7idment. Thus a foundation was laitl for a charac¬ 
 ter which should be capable of moidding society, a power in the 
 church and the world. Such is ])resuined to have been the training' 
 of our worthy elder, from the fruits which he exhibited. In the fami- 
 ly, also, the influence extends, and the end is not yet. 
 
 i\lR. JosiAii Ai.exaxder, who was an elder in the first year of the 
 organization of our church, was a native of the State of Tennes¬ 
 see. He also enjcfyed the privilege of jjious parentage and correct 
 moral trainino'. In his childhood he was led to observe the habit of 
 h’s Christian mother, who w’as accustomed to stated seasons of re¬ 
 tirement, which the son rightly divined were spent in communion 
 with her Maker. The example was not lost upon him. He meditated 
 upon it in secret, and concluded that there must be love and trust ii^ 
 such consecration. This became a means of grace to him and the 
 i)lessinos entailed by the prayers of that mother in Israel are doubt- 
 less felt in this community to-day. The chara(*ter of the son was 
 moulded after so precious a model that his whole after life was given 
 to his Maker. He w'as uncommonly sedate, walked as if in the tear 
 of the Lord and meditating u])on his precepts. His whole appear¬ 
 ance denoted a calm solemnity, a fixed trust, a solemn sense of re- 
 sponsibility and of the account which would ere long be required of 
 him. He had early chosen the ways of wdsdom, which were to him 
 ])leasant ways. ' Direct communication with his heavenly Father was 
 as his meat and drink. Xo one who listened to his juvayers and ex¬ 
 hortations could doubt his familiarity with his Friend in heaven. For 
 ever}^ service required of him he was always ready, and would get so 
 near the throne that w’e were often carried with him almost to the 
 celestial gates. 
 
 Mr. Solomox Gii. 15 ERT was a native of Massachusetts, but re¬ 
 moved in early life with his parents to western New York, where he 
 remained until settled in life, when, with his rising family, he removed 
 to this place in 1828. Of Mr. Gilbert as a citizen we would speak 
 
hi tcirns (if tlio liigliest cdiniiieiKlation. H-e Avas a ciuiet man, sens!' 
 ble, and thoug-li of few words, when his opinion was obtained it was 
 •of value. We knew where to find him, and that he was on tlui right 
 side. From a sermon preached at his funeral I gather some items 
 wh.ich may be of interest. With ns he had his full share of the joys 
 and sorrows of life. Without covetino: or strivino- to be rich, the 
 Lord lilessed him in his basket and his store and gave him a goodly 
 heritage. In his family and among his numerous relatives lie was pe- 
 enliarly ha])py. Still he svas not a stranger to trials and hjsses. Thrice 
 hf‘ mourned the loss of those lie had wedded for life ; thrice he suL 
 fered the pain and sickness incident to nianglei.l limbs and broken 
 bones. But wlio, amid all these severe trials of bod\' and mind, saw 
 him dismayed, murmuring or rejiining? Many can bear testimony to 
 th(‘ Christian jiatience and resignation Avith Avhicli he passed the (mdeal 
 of those furnaces of aflliction. Tn the temper of his mind he was un¬ 
 commonly hap])y. Lnmoved by ordinary cares and disapjiointments, 
 in patience he possessed his soul, equally reimwed from high and aus- 
 ionary expectations and from h.Av and desjAonding fears. Ilis inter¬ 
 course with mankind was always respectful and endearing, so tl at 
 liis friends were numerous and his enemies unknown. The ao-ed re- 
 speeded him, and the young did him reAmrence. Idberal in his senti¬ 
 ments and the distributi(Au of his charities, he was kind to’ the poor 
 and indulgent to his family, for avIkuii he made ample provision. By 
 lam-ular habits, a temperate course of life, and an unruffled state of 
 mind, he fille 1 up the measure of his days and became an old man, 
 having entered upon his three-score and tenth year without those 
 marks of decrepitude so often Ausible in much younger persons.” 
 
 ]Mrs. Elizabeth Alexander Avas truly a helpmeet for her saintly 
 
 husband. She aatis a pattern of good works, earnest in her efforts to 
 
 improve society. Her place in the sanctuary AA^as seldom A^acant. 
 
 She relished the Word and Avas nourished thereby. Worldly follies 
 
 «/ %, 
 
 V 
 
 claimed no attention from her Avhose spirit AA^as attuned to heaAxnly 
 harmonies. She Avas rich in faith, Avalked in Avays of obedience, be- 
 stoAved proper (;are upon her family, instructing them in the right 
 Avay, and haying the satisfaction of seeing the names of her children 
 
40 
 
 e'arly upon the church records, where they are still to be found. She* 
 was given to hospitality, and joyfully entertained those who came in 
 the name of the Lord, 
 
 Mrs. Pa^iela Tomlixsox was a native of Kew York, and 
 came to this region with the family of her father in 18:^8. She was 
 a daughter of Mr. Solomon Gilbert, and possessed many traits of 
 character resembling those of her father. She was singularly calm 
 and quiet. From the unruffled countenance which she always pre¬ 
 sented vve were led to think that however dark circumstances 
 appeared to us, witli her there w'as perfect peace. When bereft of 
 of her life companions-—which occurred more than once-—there was 
 the same cpiiet acquiescence as when a darling babe was removed 
 iVom her embrace and numbered wdth the angels. The language of 
 her deportment was then as ever, “It is the Lord, let him do as 
 seemeth him good not a murmur, not a word of repining, not a 
 tear, unless shed in secret places. Placid as a summer morning she 
 went al)out her daily duties, giving no sign of the anguish within. 
 Such faith and submission as were hers few are privileg'ed to |>osses&. 
 She was faithful in all things, worshiped her Maker in sincerity, ad¬ 
 vocated his cause, and though often under the rod of affliction, bore 
 herself serenely through all and w’-aited patiently for the hereafter, 
 when in the unveiled light of her Father'^s house the wherefore should 
 be revealed. 
 
 Miss Mary A:s>r Aleyaxder was the daugfflter of Mr. Josiah 
 and Mrs, Elizabeth Alexander, and one who early made choice of a 
 life of devotion to the interests of Christ’s kingdom. She gave cheer¬ 
 fully the dew of her youth to him w'ho calls for the service of the 
 heart, and accompanies it with the promise of rest, of peace, of his 
 care and protection while here, and ultimately of salvation. She had 
 ' faith in God^s promises, trusted in his word, and obeyed his com¬ 
 mands, She was help and comfort to her |mrents, her choice was a 
 source of satisfaction to them, and the consciousness that prayer for 
 her had been answ’ered gave them encouragement. She was a duti¬ 
 ful daughter, her conduct was exemplary, she loved the house of God, 
 
 
41 
 
 and omitted no opportunity of giving- her testimony in favor of the 
 duty of an early consecration to him who is worthy of all our powers, 
 h^ventually she was honored as the chosen comj^anioii of a herald of 
 the cross, where her sphere of usefulness was enlarged and her capa¬ 
 bilities called into exercise more fully. She left a worthy record, and 
 was ready when the summons came to enter upon her reward. 
 
 • 
 
 Miss Si'hmit Gilueht was a daughter of Mr. Solomon Gilbert, 
 and united with the people of God in Rushville, New York, in com¬ 
 pany with her father and sisters. While in the prime of life, when, 
 if ever, the world presents attractions peculiarly enticing to the 
 vouthful heart, she cast all aside and took a stand with those who 
 w(ue looking for a better country, even a heavenly. She chose to be 
 numbered with those who followed the Savior, and to give what intlu- 
 enc-e she had in favor of the best of causes. She was not seekir.e 
 p^ypularity in uniting with Christian worshipers. Without were the 
 gav and thoughtless, where her young companions would gladly havi- 
 retained her and given her a prominent ])lace in their midst. But 
 their allurements were not sufficient to withdraw her allegiance from 
 the path of duty. She was of a social temperament and calculaterl 
 to give zest to the com])any which she favored with her presence. In 
 beino- useful in the church and the world lav her vocation, and noblv 
 she fulfilled it. 
 
 T.r< V Gii.BKirr, at the earlv age of ten years, gave evidence of a 
 fitness to be numbered with God’s people, and was accordingly taken 
 under the care of the chur(;h in Rushville, New York. However 
 much she may have desired the company of the young, with whom 
 she was a favorite, f believe I am justified in saying that through a 
 lono- litb she has found that the choice of her vouno- heart has been 
 a satisfaction and a consolation through all the wearv vears and varv- 
 
 O ». »/ c 
 
 ing scenes of her pilgiimage. That this church is near her heart is 
 evidenced by th(‘ effort made to be with us at this time. 
 
 ♦ 
 

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