New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-20


Thomas Ware in 1856 discontinued his preaching
on Long Island and went through Westchester County
as far north as Bedford. whether he Mr.. Cook, or
Mr.. Talbot first preached at North Castle and ~
troduced Methodism there" says the Rev. Seymour
Van Deuscn, in his notes on the "Brief History OF
Methodsm In westchester County, lit is now diff
fcut TO ascertain. Francis Asbury, however, visited
North Castle on the 18th day Of June, 1897 and
preached 10 a multitude In archard. Asbury also
attended a quarterly meeting there August 90 fol-
lowing
Through the influence Of these missionaries and the
preachings Of Talbot, Peter Moriarty, Albert Van
Nostrand and Samuel Smith, Talbot's successor In
1899 the society then organized IN the town had
courage and strength sufficient to erect a church
The incorporation OF this church is recorded in The
Register of Religious Societies in Westchester County
at the County Clerks Office, White Plains, January 10,
1902. From that record IL Is ascertaned thas on
December "a 1701, the finale members OF full age
belonging to said church that day duly convened at
the Methodist Episcopal Church IN North Castle.
the place where they stately attend Tor
divine worship, and by plurality OF
voices elected Caleb Merritt. ST., othnel Sands,
James Hale Thomas Nash Charles Green and John
Ferris discreet and prudent persons trustees to look
after all affairs relative TO the temporaties OF the said
church"
The building was twostory frame structure, with
pitched roof and shingle siding and situated about
one mile east OF Armonk, then called Mile Square on
exact date OF it's construction tradition has not
attempted to fix, but like the First Methodist Church
at White Plains 1t was undoubtedly erected by and
through the exertions and personal work Of tho male
members Of the congregation, each contributing bis
share OF labor and money Its dimensions were thirty
BY forty feet, and its seating capacity about 300.
Around the interior Of the building three sides
gallery about ten feet In width. There lobby
to the building. Tallow candles in d-fashioned
desticks furnish the light at night and twenty win
dows eight each side and four In front and that
by day one of the striking features of The interior
the pulpit which at the extreme end Of the
room and elevated that when the preacher occupied
It he was on level with the gallery. Approach 10 10
was BY steep stairways on each side.
Stories told OF persons walking or driving forty
miles to the old church Saturdays preceding the
Sabbath, principally for quarterly vmeeSingSp 1t
was considered ordinary doing for mother 10
trudge fifteen twenty miles to the church, carry
ing her child With her. On these occasions, or when
rsvivals were in progress, the roadvays leading to
the church lined with all manner OF vehicles.
The preacher would request shelter for the women
and children.
AS Methodism advanced the society passed
cessively from the New-Rochelle Circuit In 1901 to
the Croton Circuit where it remained until the organi
zation OF Mount Pleasant Circuit in 1920. When
part Of that circuit and So continued until the lat
ter circuit was abolished in 1885, at which date. to
gcther with Kenseo, II was constituted separate
charge
Although the old church was repaired in 1897 and
It's dAfect In height OF pulpit and gallery remedied,
yc growth OF the country warranted It's Quondam
cmbers in establishing 0ff-shoots at Middle Patent,
Is dfOrd Four Corners Newcastle, Chestnut Ridge
and Bedford Village. The loss OF former members
from these causes and the tendency Of the people to
live in the village OF Armonk Mile Square, further
southwest the controlling factors which led 10 It's
abandonment in the seventies and thereafter Il
was sold and Its framework now shelters shoe shop In
the village.
IL was not vet IN ruins when the officers Of the
church had erected handsome structure at the
OF two OF the principal thoronghares OF the village.
on the site OF the church the Wings, IN 1910,
erected a Log Cabin In which 10 hold political meet
mgs
lofty trees. II has SEATING capacity Of 300. ON
the syuth end Of the building Il large audience room
whore the sundayschoo holds It's sessions 10 cost In
round figures $4,000. II dedicated ON June 3,
1879 The building committee consisted Of Abraham
smith, Grifin Gale, Thomas Elliott and Jamel Hop
kins The present officers Of the church are the Rev.
Newton Wray pastor: James Hopkins, Charles Nc
Donan Samuel Palmer Hobart Cox ard David Water
bury trustees William II. Brandage. James Brundage.
Thomas Cox. David Waterbury, Mrs. CLARK
Loverett. Mrs c. spery and Hobart Coz;
William S. smith, sunday school superintend-
emit II win be In this church that the In
terestlng centennial anniversary viii be held on Tues
day. The Indications are that there will be large
number OF visitors at the services. There VIII be
three services morning afternoon and evening The
morning service win BEGIN 81 10 rs o'clock and WIN