Evening journal., 1907-07-01

various docuuents of the time and
afterwards in a letter written by Will
Ham Penn as a small wooden church
1t stood on OF very near the site Of
what is now called the old Presby-
terian Church on Market, formerly
Land street in the present city Of New
Castle This small wooden church was
the only church in the town prior to
the arrival Of Penn Ia 1852 Following
up its history for the purpose of this
occasion, IT appears from a letter, writ
ten by the classic of Amsterdam to
the Dutch church in New Amstel. that
much dissension and difficulty had
arisen IN the church. The Dutch had
fallen into a minority. The incoming
emigrants from Scotland and the north
of ireland had largely taken their
places so much so that they began
to assume control The English LAM
guage was adopted and superseded
the Dutch, TO such an extent that re-
ligious worship was carried on in the
English tongue. This innovation was
the beginning of the end of the Dutch
Reformed church in New Amstel it
soon merged into the Presbyterian.
| They We're both practically the same
in doctrine and discipline. In this view
the Presbyterian Church in New Castle
is not only the Oldest church in New
Castle but It Is the oldest congregation
of Presbyterians in the United States.
English Drove Settlers South
''At this point, let me pause for a
moment in forging the chain OF histor-
ical events. which connect the two
localities closely together. and go back
to other events Of about the same
period Of time.
In the years 1865 and 1863 there was
much disquetude and much anxiety
among the inhabitants of New Anstel.
The English who claimed title to all
the territory of Delaware, were threat
ening and preparing TO assert their
claim In an aggressive manner. The
people We're alarmed over their safety
but scarcely knew where to so.
THE surrounding country, the beau
tiful and cultivated fields which we
now look upon with admiration and
pride were then practically tractless
wastes.
"The Government at New Amster-
dam. realizing the disposition of the
people TO leave the town. issued an
order 20 al che inhabitants in and
around New Amstel stating that if al
any time they thought Of leaving, To-
eating and taking up lands elsewhere
that for the sake of safety 16 or q
families should settle together.
Some of these brave pioneers OF tho
post it may with accuracy, be said
turned the first sod and planted tho
first seed in st. Georges hundred and
perhaps led by the providence of God
) cleared this very spot on the banks OF
Drawers Creek which was after
Z wards utilized and consecrated to His
worship.
+ "Am / correct in the conclusions
= have thus formed from unouestionec
facts of our early history? Our com
mon ancestors, who were they? Can We
name those at New Castle and its vi.
, cinity without at the same time nam
! ing those of st. Georges hundred anc
its vicinity? Is there not a responsive
chord in the heart Of each of us which
sensibly Vibrates as we renectivel.
2 mention the names OF a few Of them
p Our Old Ancestors
> LET us seet The Alrichs. the Cant
wells, the Herrmans. the DeHaes, th'
Ottos, the Janviers, the Moodvs, th'
Clarks, the Van Dykes. the Kings, thu
Andersons and McKennan, are all fam
niar names in the early history Of boil
: places. There are other old names IN
, this locality, of equal note, which d'
not appear in the early annals of New
: Castle. Among them are the Petersons
the Crawfords. the Vandegrifts, tn
IIansons. the Rothwells. the Corbitts
the Jeffersons, the Walls, the Naudains
:, the Boyds, the Woods. the Arprils, tn
Cravens and the MacDonoughs. an'
perhaps of a little later date the Pooles
the Polks, the Dilworths, the Cochrans
the Cleavers. and so on.
"Our ancestors all began the worship
of God, both here and in New Castl
in the same way; and tine plan of sal
walton as laid down in Holy Writ, wa
enunciated, preached and taught e
them in the Calvanistic faith by tn
, same minister of the gospel, the Rev
= John wilson Under his ministratioi
:, the first Presbyterian church in Neg
Castle, and the first Drawers Creel
PRESBYTERIAN church were erected. TIL
church at New Castle was the mothe
. church from her oins, so 10 speak
q this church sprang. Mr. Wilson cam
- 10 New Castle and preached there a
early and perhaps earlier than 110'
y Through his instrumentality the pres
cnt old church in that city was bull
i'm 1907 The title to the ground upoi
which it stands was vested in Roelol
a De Haes, sylvester Garland an
Thomas Janvier as trustees. In ltJ
Mr.. Wilson was ordered by the Presby
terry of the church 20 divide his labors
between New Castle. White Clay Creel
and the congregation at Drawers
then called the Church Of the Apo
y quinimink This he presumably Iii
Il until his death in 17l2 He was ma
y of piety, ability and energy, and hay
= ing by his personal efforts planted
now church In New Castle was doubt
less. mainly instrumental in causing Z
j be erected the old wooden churc
2 which first stood upon these consecrat
, ed and historic grounds in I'LL. Agai
G in 1746 the same voice in eloQuen
accents that spoke to the people .
= New Castle spoke here in tn
8 same strain to the people of 81
n Georges Hundred when the Rev. Joh
3 Dick oniciated at both places.
I Under these closely connected c.
! cumstances are we not one and insep
j arabic and is not fitting that toda
e we should be in sentimental, religion
q and historical comnenion.
. .'Stil we stop not here. Pardon m
/ -. -..t,,., q, Iffffa Further into interest