Evening journal., 1913-06-02
Old Drawers Friends Gather
in Old Church Another Year

MIDDLETOWN Del, June 2.-The
friends of Old Drawers we're favored
with fair skies and delightful breeze
yesterday for their annual reunion at
the church near Odessa. The crowd
was probably larger than it has ever
been and friends welcomed each other
for another pleasant reunion. Many
persons were present from a distance.
there being about sixty automobiles on
the grounds.
The Rev. Edward A. McLaury. OF
Odessa Presbyterian church, had
charge of the services, assisted by
the Odessa NJ. Z. church and the Rev
Francis II. Moore Of Middletown Pres
byterian church The music was de-
lightful, the Odessa choir being as
silted by Clarence r. Pool. Of McDon
ough and Mrs Warden r. Humphreys,
OF Wilmington In the afternoon the
Pool Brothers orchestra assisted.
The sermon i'm the morning was by
the Rev. J. NJ. Hubert, d. D.. clerk Of
the General Assembly Of the United
! States, from the text, His Kingdom
Ruleth over ALL" Psalms. 103-19.
At o'clock the Friends Of Old
Drawers held their annual meeting.
re-electing the officers and adding
Mrs Cazenove Lee. Of Wilmington to
the number Of trustees and electing
Alfred S. Elliott to fill the place made
vacant by the death Of Herbert Boyd,
of Philadelphia.
At the afternoon session, after sing
ing and prayer, Attorney-General Jo-
siah o. Wolcott made the address.
Mrs Warden Humphrey sang solo,
Just For Today"
Mr.. Wolcott referred to the origin
of the church by the sturdy pioneers.
whom he referred to as being indus
trious. He said in part:
"a certain hardihood of character,
fearless courage in the face of
danger. a spirit of adventurous bold
ness must have been theirs. else they
never could have persuaded them
slves 10 abandon the ease and COM
forts and certainties OF their old
world homes to brave the dangers and
hardships they knew they must en-
counter in the new land. They we're
forsaking home and all that home
means: and that alone bespeaks a
/, superior courage and boldness on
their part. For man is by nature
predisposed against transplantation
and as he reaches his maturity he
strikes his roots deeper into the soil
of his birth. Wherever he happens
to be born, whether amidst the ice
and SHOWS of the north, or beneath
the heat of tropic suns he loves his
physical environment, and. unless he
be strong and brave, to separate him
from Il may mean that he will withei
and die.
. In conclusion. Mr.. Wolcott said
"Old Drawers. in one sense OF the
word belongs not to the present. She
belongs TO the past. No longer does
I she. on the Sabbath day. witness the
weekly gatherings OF pious men anC
. women within her portals for prayer
and communion with God. Othel
congregations have weaned from hei
the children OF her spiritual care anC
/ left her standing here in solitary and
lonely grandeur among the graves o.
her dead, Like a childless parent she
has been thrust into this generation
ibereft o fthe devotion Of any she car
call her own. with nothing 10 en-
courage her 10 continue to live excep
, that she might yet keep vigil over tbs
scenes Of her youth and linger longel
among the memories Of her past.
"Rut Vet her lot Is not so sad. Shl
Is by no means barren Of good in th'
present. For 70 this generation sh
speaks in eloquent tones. silent i
her pulpit. gone are her pastors. de