Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-02
nrcENTENNtAL At sr. GEORGES.

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BTCENTENNIAL AT sr. GEORGES.
The Presbyterian Church OF st.
Georges celebrated m Sunday its 200th
anniversary. 1t proved TO be most
interesting occasion. Several OF the
Presbyterian churches within radius
of a dozen miles joined with the st.
Georges congregation in their com
second century of their church. The
pastors of the other congregations, as
well as former pastors of st, Geurges.
assisted in the services.
At tho morning aervice prayer was
offered by the Rev. W. II. Stone of
| Glasgow. Tue hymn, 81 love Thy
kingdom Lord, y was sung, the
scripture lesson was read hy tho Rev.
| o. A. DILLINGHAM; Of Port Penn, and
prayer was offered by thu Rev. Luther
4. Oates of Delaware City.
THIS Kew. X. A. Dawson, pastor, read
history of the church, Ihs following
hrief sketch gives some interesting
facts concerning tbs old church,
The Presbyterian Church Of st.
| Georges was founded IN lG9S. The
records of the church state that the
first building was erected in 1893 and
that it was enlarged and improved in
1749 the Rev. John Rogers, pastor.
The building, which then stood in the
m iddle Of the st. Georges cemetery,
was again improved and repaired in
| 1882, the Rev. James q. How, pastor.
Under the passionate of DR.. Rogers the
| church eiiitice was known az the Brick
'Meeting HOUSE OF st. Georges. In 1S4s
a new, brick edifice for the Use of the
ah,,rrh ,syao aKautad In bo ri luaa ~ 81
| Georges. Atthat time the Rev. James
How was pastor and John Sutton. John
@. Clark, Robert Ouhletree and John
SMoWhorter were elders.
|, InAS56,S under the passionate OF the
Rev. ID. H. Emerson. handsome nauHe
was built for the use of this minister,
at an expense.nf about $4,000
The rsoords5tsll that in 1893 q com
pany Of pilgrims assembled in the
forests which then covered that entire
region to worship the God OF their
fathers and to organize themselves into
visible church OF the Must High. For
many years they were too few and too
pnor to sustain pastor and were
ministsred to by pious elders OF their
own plumber until they were able to
support a pastor,
Az early as 1923, the Rev, Henry
Hook served this church in connection
with the church OF Apoquinimy. In
lTi3 thasGhurch called and settled the
HjSev. William Robinson, pious and
devoted minister, and son of wealthy
Quaker OF London. After the death Of
Mr.. Robinson, the church called the
celebrated Rev. Samuel Davies to thu
pastoral Office. Mr.. Dawes was born
in tho nsighborhood OF the church and
nj thu ypNtfh nf iha.
CATION. He was one of tho most elo-
lsquent and talented ministers this coun-
i'try has produced. He afterwards he
came the president Of Princeton College
In New Jersey, following President OF
lsJonathan Edwards,
,-sMr. Davies was succeeded by the
Rev. DIR. john Rogers, who became
pastor in 1749 and remained till l765,
period 1f 1G years DIR. Rogers was
man of great ability ana great
spirituality and gave tone to the early
history Uf this church. His youth, his
ardent piety, his wonderful zeal made
great and LASTING impression upon that
whole region of country. lie was CON
verted under George Whitefiold and they
became warm personal friends Mr.
Whitofeld ofton preached in the St
Georges Church when Visiting Dr.
Rogers. DIR. Rogers was called from
ST. Georges to the First Presby terian
Church of New York; remaining there
46 yoarR. lie was the moderator OF the
first General Assembly that ever met
in this country.
After DIR. Rogera the church had as
pastors the Rev. Elihu Spencer, Thomas
Smith, Daniel Jones, John Barton,
John Collins, Samuel Bell.
The Rev. james G. How became
pastor in 1880 aud remaining till his
death in 1865, period of 20 years. He
labored also at Port Penn and Dala-
wnre City. During his ministry four
churches were organized by his efforts,
namely, Port Penn, blkton, Milford
nnd Delaware City. During his pas
torgte 300 persons were added to the
church On profession of faith.
Many revivals were enjoyed during
Mr.. uow's pastorate. One in lSi3
was of great power and greatly strength
ened the church.
Mr. How was succeeded by the Rev.
DR.. u. II. Emerson, who was settled
in 1855 ana remained till 1865. A great
awakening was experienced in 1858,
which added 43 persons to the mem
hership of the church--their ages rang.
ing from II to 81. After DR.. Emerson,
Ohp SuuTGh hhu h1 punb'ii6s IIFs ~ II.
Bede, now of Pniladelphia; the Rev.
Justin Umstead, Rev. DIR. Henry Runner,
now Of Parkersburg, W. Va. the Rev. |
Charles A. Waller, now settled at
Nanticoke. Pa. the Rev. Mr.. Beetson |
and its present pastor, the Rev. r. a.
Dawson, who mas been there for five
years.
AT One time this was the largest and |
most influential Presbyterian church
in the State, outside OF Wilmington.
Its members have been reduced of late |
years by death and the organization of
other churches, but it i'd holding on
and doing good work in the com
munity.
Following Mr.. DRvison's historical
paper, Miss Alice Clark sang solo
aud addresses were delivered by the
Revs. ID. j. Boale, D. d., of Philadel-
rhia. and Henry Runner. d. d., of
i'arlkershurp, ". Va. GLORIOUS things
of Thee nre spoken" was sung. after
which the Rev. +. II. Moore, d. b.. of
Middlstown made greeting, and Hon.
Anthony Higgins of thit city delivered
az address.