The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-12-05
In NmEMoRY OF FORTY YEARS.
Central Pre ressyterIan Church Celebrates III @
Compilation OF Its Fourtn Decade.

NomplGtton OIL its Fourth Decade.
The first nights service Of four-days
celebration of the fortieth anniversary OF
Central Presbyterian Church was held last
evening. The attendance was large The
pulpit had been removed and the platform
was decorated with palms. Above was an
arch on which were the words OF the text:
Hitherto has the Lord helped u.s."
1t was a commemorative service and Its
features were historical addresses delivered
by two of the members who were among the
first mmbers of the church.
The Hon. Leonard Il. Wales was on the
programme to speak on Members of Gem
trail Church in Public Life" but by mis-
understanding was unable to be present.
and VIII probably speak tonight,
ID. T. Taylor spoke on THE Church
Founding" Hestold how twenty-one mem
bers OF Hanover Church, by permission OF
the Wilmington Presbytery, founded the
church in 1856. The first place of worship
was the old stone building at the south
west corner of Fifth and Walnut streets.
This old building was hallowed to the
members of the new organization. for some
OF their grandparents had worshiped many
years before within Its walls. On June 49,
1856, the cornerstone of the present Cen
tral Church was laid, and on February IS
1901, NoFSntp was nclu III tue lectuTe-rOom
before the room now used as a church had
been completed. Mr.. Taylor reviewed the
history of the eldership. of the organization
and referred feelingly to those who had
died.
George w. Bush spoke on "The Church
and Her Colonies" He began by telling
of a religious revival which had taken place
in Hanover Church in 1913. More than 100
members were added to the church, great
number Of whom were young men These
men were actuated by spirit OF eyange-
a!sm that led them to establish Sunday
schools in Richardson's school-house near
the present site of Elsemere, in the north
western section near McDowellvllle, and
another on the New Castle road. Some OF
these young men afterwards went into the
new Central Church and carried with them
the same spirit that had led to the estab-
lishment of the enterprises spoken Of After
the organization of Central Church Y. NJ.
G. A. was organized.
In 1857 Sunday school was organized in
the second story of grocery store in Nc
Dowellvlle. This school was afterwards
removed to the old Rodney Street Chapel.
Then another Sunday school was estab-
lished at Eighth and Monroe streets. In the
seventies a school was started in the second
story OF the Phoenix engine house and af-
terwards the chapel was established.
He referred also to the building OF Rod
ney Street Church. After this the Presby-
terian Alliance was formed and Central
Church did its part in the establishment of
East Lake. Elsemere and the formation of
Gilbert Church into colored Presbyterian
church.
w. X. Crosby made an address on "our
Possibilities He said great change had
come with the passing years. Many valu-
able members of Central Church had been
released to other churches, had left the city
or had Joined the Church triumphant. Some
of those that remained were not able to give
as much as in the years past The member
ship Of the organization was greater than
it ever was, but they could not give as in
the past.
II Central Church was to keep up the
record Of the forty years gone there must
be more zeal In individual effort and more
liberality.
A vigorous Sunday school is needed. He
thought mistake had been made in the To-
cation of Central Church. 1t was too near
Hanover and the First Church. The down.
town church in the future would have TO
depend for Its perpetuity on the Sunday
school.
The poor boys of to-day would be the rich
and influential men Of fifteen years from
now. and the Church would have to depend
upon them for assistance There should be
attached to Central Church a large and
cheerful Sunday school with twice the ca
pacity of the present one.
II this was secured the boys would be
kept In the church and made the workers
OF the future.
The address Of welcome was made by the
pastor. The Rev. ]. R. Milligan read the
4 ~.