Smyrna times., 1927-06-08
THOUSANDS ATTEND ANNUAL
SERVICES At OLD DRAWERS
U. S. SENATOR BAYARD MAKES
ADDRESS on SPIRITUAL VALUE
Officers Were Reelected; Rev. Ernest
P. Janyier, Returned Missionary,
breaches Sermon in Morning


breaches Sermon in Morning
A number from Smyrna Joined a
throng of between three and four
thousand persons from all over the
State, the peninsula, adjoining states
and scattered sections Of the East, in
an annual pilgrimage Sunday to Old
Drawyear's Presbyterian Church, near
Odessa, to visit the famous burial
grounds and church and attend the
morning and afternoon services com
memorating the 216th anniversary Of
its founding. From early morning
until late evening the grounds were
heavily dotted with groups of pilgrims
busy decipering the dates and legends
on the burial slabs and markers, in
specting the church inside and out,
attending the services or quietly rest
ing. The trek was made by train,
motor car, bus and on foot, with here
and there a horse and buggy. The
warm, fair weather served greatly to
make the reunion one Of the best at
tended and most pleasant in years.
The services We're held under the aus
pices Of the Friends Of Old Draw
yer's,' who organized March, 1895,
for ''the care and preservation Of the
building and cemetery Of the ancient
corporation known at The First
Presbyterian Church in st. Georges
Hundred The speakers included
United States Senator Thomas F.
Bayard, who in addressing the after
noon services stressed the Spiritual
value of history paying great trib-
ute TO the "men who made the De-
claration of independence and the
early history Of Delaware and the Ma
ton Senator Bayard invoked the
shades of Washington and number
Of others, including Caesar Rodney.
and quoted great philosophers, states
men and poets, stirring the audience
that packed the little church to the
Importance of "doing their duty" by
being worthy Of the great spiritual
and historical legacy (which IL
theirs He also pleaded with his
hearers not To allow themselves to be
seriously affected BY the effort of Ger
tain writer's to belittle great Amer
lean heroes and historical characters,
"but to always keep in mind the great
things in their lives and you will find
that you can easily afford to ignore
the little things" Rev. Ernest P.
Janvier, missionary from India, we'll
known throughout the State, and at
the present time spending several
weeks in study at Philadelphia,
preached the sermon at the morning
services, dwelling on the greatness Of
the life Of Jesus Christ and urging
M. 4. Mcclure, pastor Of the Metho-
dist Church, Of Odessa, opened both
services with prayer and introduced
the speakers. The annual meeting Of
the Friends of Old Drawers" held
shortly before the afternoon service,
resulted in the election of all the pre-
sent officers and trustees, headed BY
|. Janvier Woods, of Mt. Pleasant,
president. The finances for the care
of the grounds and church were re-
ported in good condition and large
collections were taken at both SER
vices for the work, and a committee
headed by Clarence E. Pool
vice president, from McDonough, to
have the interior of the church re
painted and renovated this year The
beauty and excellent condition of the
grounds and church drew compliments
from hundreds. The church and bur
ial ground were profusely decorated
with flowers for the occasion. The
special music at the services was in
charge of Professor Jacob 4. Clymer,
of Wilmington-prese the Har
mony Octette, composed Of Soprano,
Mrs. NJ S. Warren and Mrs. Helen
NJ. Carver; contralto, Mrs. B. o. Gil
bert and Miss Esther G. Shakespeare;
tenor, Professor J. T. Clymer and L.
B. Guest; bass, P. C. Vansant and
Frank E. Jones; organist, Mrs. Char
les Cleaves. The site of the Old
Drawers Presbyterian church was
purchased May 10, I'LL, and the
building was Immediately erected.
Condemned as unfit for a house of
worship in 1869, funds were raised
and a two-story building was erected
in 1773 by a London contracting COM
pany. Rev. John Wilson was the first
pastor The Society of Friends of
Old Drawers was organized in 1895
to care for and preserve the old
church.