Newark post., 1911-06-07
ANNIVERSARY AT OLD
DRAWERS JUNE 4


assemble at the Old Drawers Presby-
terian Church, near Odessa to attest
their appreciation of the inspiration Of
Lewis c. Vandegrift founder of the lit
tie band of friends who, since 1895 have
restored the church and its grounds to
their old-time beauty and dignity.
1t is comforting to think that in
country as young as ours, civilization is
yet old enough to cherish the old ideals
and institutions.
This year marks the 203rd anniversary
of the founding of this church. The
building without and within is beauti-
full along simple lines, and has no tx
cuse to offer to the designers of modern
places of worship.
There is an entire absence of fresco
and stained glass, the walls are unadoln-
ed and the windows wide and clear. The
cemetery, which contains many old
tombs, among them those of several
Revolutionary heroes, slopes at the rear
to the Apoquinimny creek, which winds
| and turns as if loath to leave the spot.
Religious services were held in the
| morning, with an earnest and forcelul
| sermon by the Rev. William Roberts, Of
| Philadelphia, stated clerk of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.
He spoke of the stability and liberanty
of the doctrines of the Presbyterian
Church. of it's work along educational
lines, it's belief in the intelligent pew
and the scholarly pulpit.
| DR.. Roberts deplores the talk Of the
| failure of Professionalism and declares
| there are no grounds for such fears.
| Finally, he admonished each one to do
his best in that church in which ny
choice or preparation of mind he found
himself placed, to be as good a Presby-
teran or Methodist or Baptist as lay in
his power By putting into practice the
principles professed in the separate
churches, each and every one may do a
wonderful part in solving the worlds
problems.
In the afternoon a popular meeting wa,
held, in charge of "The Friends of Ole
Drawers"
Chief Justice Pennewill was the ora
tor. His subject was 'The Development
Of Good Citizenship" and his words were
earnest, illuminating and above all
|
the world is growing better and firm
faith in mankind. He spoke of the cri
ticism of men in public life, the ide
among some that a good man could no
occupy high public Office and expresI
ed fears that il such tendency were no
, checked it would be more and more dittl
cult to secure good men for public Office
His arguments against the recall wer
: clear and strong.
} The recall in plain words means sim
ply that the Office may be taken fro1
the man at any time by popular vote
AS 1t would often be impossible for a
Office holder to know the mind of hi
constituents on all subjects, self respec,
ing men would be less willing to Civ
> their reputation into the keeping
such system.
He pictured the dark scene at Vale
Forge, and suggested that a popular wi
at that time might have removed tt
=, commanderi in chief, with possib
change in the history of our country
the system would of necessity apply
those in highest office, Abraham Lincu
! probably would not have served as Pres
dent through all the years of the Ci,
War, and all our great men who ha
shown their greatness in hours of ties
e might not have been permitted to use t
: power that lay within them OF t
e peace movement our Chief Justice is
g warm and hopeful supporter.
With such consideration as beconl
IA his office he spoke of the dealings
0. the law with young offenders, in full a
l. probation of their probable ignoran
II and environment.
,e Altogether the day at the old chur
was one of pleasure and profit, and ma
4, will look forward to another first Su
n day in June.