Milford chronicle., 1933-06-02
FIRST MINISTER'S
KIN TOPREACH IN
OLD DRAWERS
LCOnfiHHed from First Page1

pulpit filled by his ancestor, DR.
Read, of the same religious faith
100 years ago. He is pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church, Spring
field Gardens, Long Island. His
text will be THE Changeless Christ
with especial reference to the his
torical importance of the old church
now opened but once a year, the
first Sunday in June. He will stand
within six feet of a tablet installed
on the wall in memory of his anees-
tor. The original church. which the
present one replaced, was built in
1711. "
Former State Pastor
Dr. Field himself served pastor
ates at FELTON, and Harrington in
this State from 1903 until 1905. and
was president of the Delaware State
Christian Endeavor Union.
He is a graduate of Haverford Col
lege where he received his B. A. de+
gree and also an NJ. A. degree. DR..
Field completed five years of study
at the University of Pennsylvania for
his Phi. D. degree, but has not COM
pleted his final thesis. He is we'll
known in church circles as an author
of religious dramas, poems and mon
agraphs. He is at present honorary
president of the Religious Drama
Council of Greater New York. which
he organized some years ago. He
was also the editor of the Haverford
College Song Book. and wrote sew
eral songs still in use at his Alma
Mater.
Church Society to Meet.
Another feature of the annual ser
vice at Old Drawers Church will be
the meeting Of "The Friends of Old
Drawers" Business of the society
will be transacted and officers elect
John Price Hyatt. of Wilmington,
president; Clarence E. Pool, of Nc
Donough, vice president; Miss. S.
Cornelia Bowman, of Wilmington,
secretary. and George Janvier. of
Middletown, treasurer. These Off |
cials will undoubtedly be, reelected |
for next year. . ~
Trustees of "The Friends of Old |
Drawers" are: Mrs. Edgar Hobbs |
Arnold, of Greenwich, Conn; David
c. Aspril, of Wilmington: D. Stewart !
Craven, of Salem, N. j.. Frank Da-
Wis, of Odessa; Miss Helen S. Gar
rett, of Wilmington; j. Willard Hum
phrey, of Claymont; Francis deli.
Janvier, of New Castle; Mrs. Gaze
move G.. Lee, Jr., of Washington, d.
c.; Mrs. Bessie A. Mills Moore. of
Washington, D. c.; Judge John P.
Nields, of Wilmington; Howard A.
Pool, of Middletown; Joseph M. Pugh
of Haverford, Pa. William F. Sell
Iers, of Edge Moor: James T.. Shall
cross, of Middletown; S. D. Town
send and Christopher Vandegrift,
both of Wilmington.
Dr.. Read StaaReIlz Patriot .is-s.zz4
DR.. Thomas Read, staunch Pres
byterian who served as first pastor
of the present Old Drawers struc-
ture was for number of years pre-
sident of the Newark Academy OF
Colonial times. He also devoted
much time to the "Old Forest
Church. and st. Georges. He labor
ed in the ministry in Delaware for
more than 30 years, and has been re-
ferred to frequently as the first Pres
byterian missionary in the lower
counties of this State. c
During the early part of the Revo-
War DR.. Read gave advice :
to Washington on the best route for
the movement of troops because of
his knowledge of the country in this
section.
Later in one of the darkest hours
of the Revolution, DR.. Read marched
to war. himself at the head Of SO !
and neighbors. When
the. British attacked Lewes during
the War of 1912 and message was
sent to Washington, D. c., for aid,
DR.. Read, then in his early SOS, 2
preached to a number of his parish II
toner's who obeyed the call. His
text was "And the messenger came v
10 Saul saying, Haste ye and come
for the Philistines have invaded the h
and" 9
Former Wilmington Pastor. :
In 1897 DR.. Read accepted a call l,
10 become pastor of the old Second
Presbyterian Church of Wilmington :
(now Hanover Presbyterian church,
After 19 years of service there fall
ng health compelled him to retire.
He died in 1923. and was buried un-
Ter the floor of the old First Pres
,yterian Church, which once stood
1t Tenth and Market streets, but is
low. standing at West street and
Park Drive. It is the
present home of the National So 4
,iety Of Colonial Danes in Delaware.
For many years DR.. Reads home
n Wilmington was on Front street,
. short distance West of Market
treet. In the rear of his home a
arge garden extended to the edge
f the Christiana River, while to the
Vorth Of his home ran the Turn
like which was the main artery of
ravel between Philadelphia and