Middletown transcript., 1911-06-10

ing Of the ''Friends OF Old Drawers" at
the historic edifce on the "Apoquini-
N.Y. known as "Old Drawers" Church.
The weather was more than propitious
il was ideally perfect in every detail OF
temperature, sunshine and cooling breeSes,
while the rainfall of the Saturday night
before gave the added delight Of dustless
highway.
Consequently one of the largest gather
ings ever known, assembled at that beau
tiful spot on Sunday last About 100
carriages we're present and 10 or II auto.
mobiles-in all, fully 500 or 500 persons
present from various parts OF the State
and. from other states. The program
occupied the entire day, the audience OF
the morning forming with later arrivals,
the audience Of the afternoon. The morn
ing exercises which were wholly of re.
lieious character, were in charge OF Rev.
Francis Fl. Moore, D. D. pastor OF the
Forest Presbyterian Church Of Middle
town, in the stead of the pastor OF the
Drawers Presbyterian Church in Odessa,
who was absent.
The venerable old church, nicely paint
ed and repaired, was prettily dressed inside
in wild flowers and plants. Just behind
the old fashioned high pulpit with its
sounding board above, surmounted bY Q
gilded dove, ia a square window whose
embrasure was filed with living ferns,
while on either side of the pulpit on the
window stills and in front OF it, were
large bouquets of snowy laurel blooms
all brought from the adjacent woods.
Natures feathered cheristers were chirp-
ing aud singing in the woods aud fields
not dozen rods away, and even as one
sat in the church the cawing OF the crows
high overhead could be heard. The
dark green OF the wooded bill behind; and
the sheen of the winding creek, moving
in serpentine coils amid its dark masses oI
reed and spatterdock; the wavingl Whea'
fields across the wsy;-all this sylvan
scene was the setting for the handso me
old church, as stout and staunch, neal
and prim as though built but yesterday,
and not almost 40 years ago! Well may
the distinguished Rev. George Foot, the
long time pastor and historian of Draw
yer's say that ''in materials and workman
ship it is a noble monument OF the fidelity
of the building committee and of the at
lection of that generation for the decency
and'orderof divine worship. "Save.for somt
insect ravages within, even the woodWorh
Of the stately edifce is as sound as the
day that saw its erection!
After singing the doxology, and th'
speaking of the short prayer by DR.. Moore
hymn 5O7 was sung. Then came the read
ing by Rev. DIR. William II. Roberts o
the 18th Psalm and chapter three OF st
Paul's Epistle to the Ephesisns. DR. Rob
erts followed with the long prayer, refer
ring therein to the useful lives and memo
ries of the long ago forefathers OF th'
church, both ministers and members
Thereupon DR.. Moore briefly presented
to the audience the speaker OF the morn
ing, DR.. William FL. Roberts, who for q
years b had held the honor Of Stated Clerl
of the General Assembly, and who, the
speaker said, more than any other singh
person had brought about the uniicatior
of the various branches of the Presbyterl
an Church, and who was also lsoorlnR
hard in the van of those who seek mos
hopefully to accomplish like union o
all Protestant churches realization o
Christ's prayer to the Father "that the.
all may be one."
DR.. Roberts in bis opening words ex
pressed his pleasure at being permitted e.
address such q congregation in such al
historic church upon the historic occasion
and congratulated bis auditors upol
having go faithfully and devotedly con
served for all these years, as church th
great fundamental doctrines of Presby
terianism. DR.. Roberts also read lette
received by him from the daughter
the Rev. George Foot, Mrs. HarrIe
Moore, now living at the age OF 81 /
Cambridge Mass, in which she spoke
the long services of her father as paste
Of" Old Drawers" from 1885 to l84s
and sent her salutations to the peopl
assembled in honor of the church and II
old memories-all still as dear as ever
her.
The speaker then for over an hour mad
o mastery presentation and review OF th
leminent services OF the great Presbyteria
Charch to the cause Of religion and il
Christ, taking for bis text Ephesians &c
the 10Th and 21st verses. "Now unto Hi
that is able to do exceeding abundant
; above all that we ask or think, accordir
| to the power that worketh in US. Uni
Him be glory in the church by Jes'
Christ throughout all ages, world Witho1
end. Amen"
Ii was . noble sermon filled with sour
Christian doctrine, most earnestly al
eloquently presented. The Docto
though using manuscript is rarely effe
tive speaker somehow managing to 9
and keep the interested attention Of b
audience as completely as though be we
; addressing them entirely extempore.
his prayer after the sermon be touching
asked blessing upon his aged correspo
dent, Mrs. Harriet Moore.
During the noon intermission scores
| visitors scattered over the clean sWard, al
some on tables extemporried for the tim
| others on table cloths spread upon 81
!, grass, others agein in carriage or aut
4 prepared their laDchcans,
At O'Clock in the afternoon, DIR. K
berts read the III Chapter Of Hebrews al
hymn SE7 was sung. Then Mr.. Daniel
Cerbit, president Of the Friends Of Q
DraWyers" association took charge Of q
exercises for the afternoon. He read frC
l some printed minutes the history aud 3
iects.of the Society to preserve inVioll
II e al E1Sk