Middletown transcript., 1915-06-12
2O4TH ANNIVERSARY

OF 'Old Drawers presbyterian
Church near Odessa, was observed Sun
day. This was the occasion when the
Friends of Old Drawers, the organiza-
tion which looks after the church, held
its annual meeting and attended all
day services at the church.
The Rev. Edward A. McLaury, pas
tor of the Presbyterian Church in
Odessa, had general charge of the SER
vices. In the morning the Rev. U.
Franklin Smiley, pastor of West Pres
byterian Church, preached on the sub
ject, what is Cod? and in the after
noon Judge Henry C. Conrad made an
address on the history of the church.
Judge Conrad gave a most interesting
sketch, speaking most particularly of
the Rev. Thomas Read, who was past
tor of the church in 1773. DR.. Read
was born in Chester county, Pa, of
Irish parentage. His second wife was
a resident of Bohemia Manor, near
here. Mr. Conrad also spoke with
great respect of the Rev George Foote,
and of his History of Old Drawers
Church" A relative of DIR. Foote was
present at the service and later
gathered some of the flowers from the
pulpit to send to Mrs. Harriet Foote
Moore, daughter of DR.. Foote, now
in her eighty-sixth year, and living in
Massachusetts,.
Mr. Conrad's address was a master
piece and will be valued addition to
the history of the church.
The attendance was unusually large,
for the reason that the roads in the
county have been greatly improved and
there is an ex .ellent stone road leading
to the church. Most of those in atten-
dance ate their luncheons about the
grounds of the old church.
The Friends of Old Drawers re-elect
ed Daniel W. Corbit, Odessa, president
Thomas j. Craven, Salem, N. j., vice
president; Miss S. Cornelia Bowman,
Wilmington, secretary; George Janvier,
Mi1dletown, treasurer; John V. Craven,
| West Chester; William G. Janvier, St.
Georges; Howard A, Poole, Middletown
Dr. Walter V. Woods, Odessa; Clarence
E. Poole and Isaac ]. Woods, McDon-
ough; Miss Dorothy Vandegrift and AL
fred S. Elliott, Wilmington, directors.
The colec ion, which was quite large
will be used by the "Frends of Old
Drawers" to help keep up repairs to
the church and burying ground. The
noon hour was spent in pleasant picnic
style in the grove, many having num-
Der Of guests at lunch.
In the afternoon Daniel w. Corbit
president of the "Friends" spoke of
the beginning of the society, this being
the twentieth anniversary. It's origi-
nator was the late Louis G.. Vandegrift
of Wilmington. and his family has al
ways since that time felt the greatest
interest IN the church and in the So
ciety.
Some of those present from a dis
tance were: Mr. Walraven and party.
Chestertown. Md, Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam P Mlliiin, Mrs. Julia Boyd, Phil
ade!phia; Mrs. Edward P, Mifflin, Rid
ley Park, Pa; Alfred S. Elliott and
family, F, E. Janvies, Miss Adelaide
Shippers, MIR. and Mrs Warden R.
Humphrey, Miss Lillian Humphrey,
James j. Humphrey, Mrs. F. Shepherd
H. R. Shepherd, Mr.. and Mrs, Head,
Mr.. and Mrs. r. o. Janvier, Robert
Morrow. Miss Lille Jackson, Mrs. Gar
rett, Miss Garrett, Miss Vandegrift, of
Wilmington; Miss Ada Warren, FELTON,;
Henry Cleaver, Delaware City; Judge
James Pennewill, Dover; William E.
Rothwell, James L. Eliason and son, of
New Castle; Mrs. NJ. F. Sutphin, of
Trenton, N. j.; Niss Nellie Ford, Bev-
erley, N. j.; Mr.. and Mrs. Columbus
Watkins, Easton, Nd; John Lambson
and party, of New Castle; Mrs. Coun-
Gil, Mrs. Ferris, Mr.. and Mrs ]. fl.
Mendinhall and daughter, Miss O'Con-
nell, Mr.. and Mrs. D. P. Barnard, of
Wilmington; Mrs. Richard j. Foard j.
| Foard, East Orange, N. j.