Middletown transcript., 1873-09-20
Local and State Affairs.
Old Drawyer's Church.
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The annual Se.unlon Of tho various couRseRa.
tiows which branched from Old Draw yer . church
wee held Lest Sunday, and, at the sams time Tie
csntenalal Anniversary OF the erection sf The
preeent building was celebrated.
The heavy raia OF tho night previous aad the
consequent unpleasant state Of the weather pro-
hibited many persons from attending the csse-
monies who would doubtless have been glad 10
be present. Notwi,hs,andng the weather, how
ever, a goodIy crowd gathered together including
representatives from the churches OF s.. Georges
Por, Penn, Delaware City, Odessa and Middle
Drawysr's, to join In celebrating the one hum
drsdth anniversary Of their ancient mother
church, aad 10 enjoy short season Of friendly
intercourse together.
Great pains had been taken to have the old
building properly prepared for the great event
The cobwebs were brushed down, the floors
secured and the whole interior beautifully deco
rated with flowers and evcrgreens, and the
long mound in front WIS also decorated with
large baskets and usns Of choice flowers
and plants. The eject was very striking. -
We have understood that the crcdi, for this
d. W. Corhii, Mrs. s. +. Polk and Misses Lydia
Watkins, Katie Crowell, Ida whittock, Maggie
vandegrift and Josie MiHin.
rns MORNING sEavica.
Al eleven O'Clock, A. NJ, the services were
opened with hymn followed by prayer by the
Rev. Joseph Wilson. the oldest pastor OF the old
church living. and the reading of the scriptures
by Rev. John Patton, d. D., pastor Of the Forest
Prssby tsrinn Church Of Middiciown, after which
Rev. DR.. John Crowcli. Of Odessa, preached .
most eloquent sermon from the words, "whsa
the foundation Of this house was laid" Ex.A
lilch., i3v. All present listened with the mos,
intense rapture 10 tho splendid discourse Of Dr.
Crswell and At the close Of the service there was
expressed but one opinion, all were delighted
and unanimously pronounced ii one Of the fuest
| specimens Of pulpit eloqusnce they had ever
listened to. DR.. Cro~ell gave brief history Of
the old church, and Of the rise and progrcs, Of
Christianity within the century Of It's existence
OF various Christian organizations and societies
which had arisen within the past century and OF
the progress aud spread Of science and ART, trsc.
ing their connection with the spread OF Thrrn.
rns SINGING.
The singing was performed bv a select choir
from Wilmington, consisting Of Mr.. ~. l.. Lieh-
sns,cin, Mr. Rhoads, from Reading, IA. } Mrs.
$. a. MeCail's,er and Miss ormond, OF the wcs'
lcysn Female College. Miss Rsbccra Pierce. or
ganist Several solos were sung TOO Late, -
by Miss ormond, being particularly beautiful.
The music WAS very pretty, and the singing.
doubtless. very fine, bu; there were some old
fashioned Christians who did not altogether
appreciate the scmi-operatic tunes, which they
could no, understand. They may have been.
good old people think they would like to hesr the
~ord' Of the hymns that they msy sing with
the understanding ~ we'll as with the voice.
rnr AFTERNOON SERVICE.
The afternoon was pretty much consumed In
the delivery OF addresses by Rev. Jos Wilson.
Judge Pierce, Rev. Charles Brown and H. J.
Gaylord.
rnE FORMER PASTORS PRESENT
The ministers were all formerly pastors Of the
old church. Rev Joseph Wilson, tho eldest,
was ordaiaed pastor OF tho Drawers, Forest
(Middlc,own) and SMYRNA churchat on the 10Th
day Of June, ls22, and worked in this part oi
the Christian vineyard for eight years Mr.
Wilson was, also the first principal Of Middle
iowa Academy, and when II was made known.
through the columns OF the TRASscnirr last week.
that he was expected 10 be present, the few Of his
former pupils who are still living consulted to-
gethcr and determined 10 be prcscst, as far ms
possible, n, the centennial and once again gree,
their former pastor, teacher, and long cherished
friend. Time and the "fcll destroyer" had done
their work nmeng them. and they could uus,cr
but mere handful Of the many happy bows who
once gathered 6enca h the roof OF the old Acnd.
smy TO receive instruction from the now vcncra-
be principal. Mr. Wilson met with serious
accident on Saturday morning las, While go-
ing down stairs AT the residence of his brother,
in Philadelphia, he missed his footing and fell
down the entire hight. cutting his head and
otherwise bruising himself. Determined, how
ever, 10 fulfil his engagement, with the descend
ants OF his former dock and pupils, he bnndaged
his head, and though suffering considerably from,
the effects Of his fall, came down 10 take part in
the ceremonies. On the evening Of his arrival
he was At once called upon at the house Of the
gcnilcsan with whom he stayed, one Of his old
pupils by number Of his former friends who
were greatly delighted to meet HIM once more
Among these was an aged gentleman who on
,he invitation Of the host took tea with his old
friend, 4 ltils remarkable In that he has not ac-
ccp,ed an invitation 10 partake of tho hospitality
Of any one before for more than twenty years
TN the Monday following he rode out with his
hos, and visited many places Of interest TO him
in former times. The good old gentleman was
much surprised at the rapid progress tina, has
hesn made in Midlciown since he las, saw II,
30 wears ago. lilo went 10 the Forest Cemetery,
but the old building in which he so long ex.
pounded the way Of life had been torn down and
scarcely a trace Of II left.
Mr.. Wilson WAS accompanied by his wife, an
cstmablc lady whom he brought bride TO Mid
dictown on the 18th Of September, 1922, SO that
il she had delayed until Thursday. her two com.
ings would have been just 81 years apart. What
mighty changes have come over the country
within that period.
Rev. chas. Brown, the next Oldest pastor to
Mr.. Wilson, made few well timed and interest.
ing remarks which were listened 10 with marked
| attention.
lie was followed by Rev. II. J. Gaylord, whose
remarks were confined mostly 10 the graves about
the church and the memsry Of their occupants
Both the Revs. !. ". X. Handy and John lien.
bricks, the latter the last regular pastsr OF Old
Drawers, were invited but were unable to be
prs.ent.
TuG OLD CHURCH
The spot on which Old Drawyers Church
| stands was first chosen as q site for \ house ol
worship on the 10th Of May, IN. Among the
trustees 10 whom the land was decided appear the
names Of Hans Hanson and Andrew Peterson,
names familiar to the people Of this vicinity -
The first regular pastor was Rev. John Wilson,
who preached TO the people Of this section as ear.
ly As 110s, but At that time they had no stated
house Of worship, though Il 10 thought that The
Rev. Nathaniel Taylor gathered the congrsgatieu
that formed the nucleus for the church losg prioi
10 100, A. the records show that the TAYLOR fan.
lily were settled in the vicinity Of Drswyer's .,
| fnr back ~ 1883.