Smyrna times., 1931-06-10
MANY PRESBYTER|ANS join
OLD DRAWERS PILGRIMAGE
220TH ANNIVERSARY OF OLD
SHRINE, MECCA FOR MANY
Ruby r. Vale, Esq, of Milford,
WeIl-known Philadelphia Law
yer, Gives Stirring Address

WeIl-AnOWn FnIlaQelphla Law
yer, Gives Stirring Address
A number from Smyrna includ-
ing Rev. w. J. Bone, pastor of the
Presbyterian Church of Smyrna,
ard members of his congregation,
Joined the pilgrimage to Old Draw
yers Church near Odessa, on Sun
Gay to participate in the annual
meeting at this old shrine Most
of the Smyrna contingent motored
up in the afternoon. The weather
was hot and those in the church
yard sought the shelter of the
trees. "A feature of the afternoon
was the address of Ruby r. Vale,
Esq, Philadelphia attorney and
native of Milford, who in a vigor-
Gus and stirring address, said he
was convinced that the time is
coming when the brotherhood of
man will be realized in life's rela-
tions. Mr.. Vale, the principal
speaker at the afternon exercises
marking the 220th anniversary of
the founding Of the church, spoke
on the theme, Christ, the Social
Reformer." The celebration at the
church Sunday, attracted hundreds
of persons from New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware
to the two services held there. The
morning service was in charge of
the Rev. Edward w. Bate, pastor
of the Presbyterian Church in Mid
dletown and the Rev.Janvier Loud
erbough, of Elizabeth, N. J.,preach-
ed the sermon. Mr.. Louderbough's
mother a member of the Janvier
family of this section, is buried in
the cemetery adjoining. Between
the morning and afternoon services
hundreds of the pilgrims enjoyed
picnic lunches in the grove about
the church. /. Janvier Woods,
president of the Friends of Old
Drawers, extended the greetings
of the society to the assemblage.
John Price Hyatt, of Wilmington,
a member of the board of trustees
of the society, and friend of Mr..
Vale, introduced the speaker. The
Sudlersville Male Quartette, COM
posed of ]. w. Paynter, Charles B.
Chance, Olin Smith and John
Smith, all of Sudlersville, Md, add
ed to the musical program with
several well rendered vocal selec-
tions.
Officers of Organization Reelected
The annual meeting of the
Friends of Old Drawers, a society
founded in 895, for the purpose Of
caring for the ancient building and
preserving in good condition the
cemetery adjoining, was held i'm
mediately after the morning ser
vice. The officers and trustees
were reelected. 1. Janvier Woods,
of Middletown, was reelected pres
ident. Other officers re-electd fol
low: Clarnce E. Pool, of McDon-
ough, vice-president; Miss S. Cor
nelia Bowman, of Wilmington, sec
retary, and George Janvier, Of Mid
dletown, treasurer. The following
trustees remain in Office also: Mrs.
Edgar Hobbs Arnold of Greenwich,
Conn; D. Stewart Craven, of Sal
EN-, N. j.; Miss Helen S. Garrett,
of Wilmington; ]. Willard Humph-
rey, of Claymont; John Price
II,,o&+ of IIr;I,,,;,or+oy,. Errapoic do
Haviland Janvier, of New Castle;
Mrs. Cazenove G. Lee, Jr., of Wash
ington, D. c.; Mrs. Bessie a. Mills
Moore, of Washington, DC; Judge
of the United States District Court
John P. Nields, of Wilmington;
Howard a. Poole, of Middletown;
Joseph M. Pugh, of Haverford, Pa;
William F. Sellers, of Edge Moor;
James T. Shallcross, of Middle
town, and Christopher Vandegrift,
Of Wilmington.
Old Drawers Founded 22O Years
The original edifice was erected
in I'll, with the Rev. John Wilson
as the first pastor. He had taken
charge of the congregation in 1708,
but no regular church building was
available until the original "Old
Drawers" Church was built three
years later. The present building,
chaste brick structure of simple
Colonial design, grown over with
thick English ivy, which contrasts
ways and window frames and the
red brick walls, was erected in
1773. Inside are the old box pews
and the gallery on three sides of
the rectangular-shaped auditorium,
remain just as they were in the
pre-Revolutionary days.