Milford chronicle., 1929-12-06
Celebration Of Eightieth Anniversary Marked
By Special Featrures.

A LTHOUGH murky skies and g
"A drizzling rain characterized
L Athe weather of Sunday, Novem-
Der "a, yet the services held in the
First Presbyterian Church in honor
of it's organization were well at
tended by enthusiastic audiences. The
occasion was in charge of the pas
tor, Rev. Alfred Merrill Eells. D. D..
who suggested and planned the GER
emonies. Visitors from other COM
munities were present and helped
to make the day long to be remem-
bered.
The hour of the morning worship
was the principal event of the ser
les. Prof. Arthur Hudson had col
Elaborated with the choir and organ
ist in preparing music that proved
to be attractive. The first d1stlnc-
tive feature was when the pastor
bantized George William, the infant
child of Mr.. and Mrs. G. Chester
Marshall and the great grandson OF
Mrs. VIM. Marshall who founded the
Sunday school in 1S47. Immediately
following DR.. Eells welcomed into
the membership of the church, VIII
mer o. Lankford, Mrs. banktoro'
Wilmer o. Lankford, III, Mrs. James
Humes. Gustavius A. Swanson, Geo.
w. Perry, George Grier Russell,
Joshua Norman Bennett, William
Joseph McLoughry and Alfred JOS
eph Shea. Five of the new mem
hers are also members of the Sun
day school class taught by Alphonso
p. Humes.
After the choir had sung the an
them. Saviour Again At Thy Dear
Name We CALL" Rev. Eells present.
ed the following historical sketch:
Time is a river sweeping by the
citidel of life out into the ocean OF
eternity. 1t bears upon its HOOD
events that, in passing, have left
along its shores precious memories.
Among these is the institution OF
our church. And today we assemble
to retrace the past and to honor the
agencies which, during eighty years
have made possible the organ1za-
ton we love.
milford is distinctive. The Mis-
million River which connects Silver
Lake with the Delaware Bay, also is
a partial boundary of Kent and Sus-
sex counties and divides the city
into its North and South sections.
Nature has done much to make our
community attractive. But its seen
ic beauty is not it's sole asset. 1t is
primarily industrial and CONNER
cial. Today it ranks second among
the business units of our State. Yet
to properly appreciate its growth
we must understand the history and
progress of its religious institu-
tions.
L The Church
1S49-1929
blessed is the name of Francis
Mackenzie. With mind of Paul,
the love Of a John and the enthus1-
asm of a Peter he has made a rec
ord that is a benediction to this
Peninsula. He not only organized
the Rehoboth, Maryland Presbyter-
ian Church, the first Presbyterian
Church to be organized in America,
but he is also credited with bring
ing into existence other similar or
ganizations among which is the
Three Runs Church. This was so
named because it was situated about
one-fourth of a mile west of our
present church where three streams
became feeders to one of our beau
tiful lakes. Nothing now marks the
spot except a few pieces of broken
bricks and a solitary grave. Such
are the relics of an institution that
started in the year 1712. Yet it was
the shrine where noble souls wor-
shipped. 1t commentaries a sane
tuary that faced the privations of
pioneer days, endured the ravages
of the Revolutionary War and help
ed in the founding of our govern
ment. For a century it stood with
faith undaunted and it's standard un-
lowered.
"Then came the inevitable. The
march of progress attracted its ad-
herents to other places. They united
with Presbyterian organizations
elsewhere Only a few remained.
There was that strict Calvinist Rob-
ert King and his sister. There was
Miss Harriet McNatt. And there
were the following trustees elected
as late as January II, 1919: Joseph
Hazlett, Robert P. Campbell, John
Shafer, Robert King and William
Satterfield. Among its adherents
were Governor VIM. Tharp and his
family. Also the Ralstons are re-
membered. These faced the prob
lens of migration and transition. At
last in the year 1919 the old histor-
ic Three Runs Church was aband-
oned, but it's influence continued.
It's history had cultivated favor
able sentiment in Milford and v1c1n-
ity. From Pennsylvania and New
Jersey there came Presbyterian fam
lilies to eventually augment and
crystallize that sentiment into
reality.
Before a generation had passed
there came to Milford a Presbyter-
ian missionary by the name of Rev.
G. w. Kennedy. He seemed to be
imbued with the same courage, ferv-
or and wisdom that was wrought
into the life of the great Mackenzie.
In his day he was not less noble.
He established a preaching point in
Milford in the School House in the
South part of the town. Here he
found an union Sunday School and
gave it his cooperation. He would
arrive before the close of the
school and assist Miss McColley in
the exercises.
"When Rev. Kennedy began his
work in Milford he found but two
persons pronounced in favor of
church. One was the wife of Gov
ernor VIM. Tharp and the other
was a Miss Johnson who later be-