Smyrna times., 1933-06-07
OLD DRAWERS
HAS REUNION
Day Being Fine, Many Motor
to Presbyterian Shrine
For Day Near Odessa
]. p. HYATT REELECTED

Friends of Old Drawers" again
gathered in reunion at the histori-
cal old church building on the
State Road, near Odessa, Sunday,
with about 500 persons attending
the morning and afternoon servic-
es. The Rev. Elliott Field, d. d.,
of Springfield Gardens, Long ISL
and, N. Y, great-great-grandson of
the Rev. Thomas Read, D. D., first
pastor of the present church, deliv-
cred the morning sermon in the
identical pulpit occupied by his an
cestor in 1878. In the afternoon a
historical address was given by
John Biggs, Jr., Of Wilmington,
grandson of the late Governor Ben
jamin T. Biggs, of Middletown-
THE Christ of 1773 is the Christ
of 1933," DIR. Field said and in ex-
planning this said it is the people
who change in their relation to the
Master. He further said: The ap-
peal of Christ's perfection is that
He won it, labored for it and suf-
fered for it," He dweFt upon
Christ's perfection of character.
His unchangeability and His love.
IF the love Of mother is un-
changeable, he cited, how much
more is the love of God, who is
love-" THE spirit of Old Draw
yers is the spirit Of Jesus Christ,
for it is always the same" he con-
cluded, land it brings to us the
truth of the statement, This is
Jesus" The sermon was a schol-
arly discourse. DIR. Read, the dis
tinguished forebear of DR.. Field,
who came to Delaware in 1868
shortly after graduating from the
University of Pennsylvania. In
1772 he accepted call to Old
Drawers, and serving there until
1897, when he was transferred to
the Second (now Hanover) Presby-
terian Church, Wilmington, which
pulpit he filed for 10 years. Later
in the day there was a meeting of
the association Friends of Old
Drawers and John Price Hyatt,
son of Mrs. Julia Hyatt of Smyrna,
was again honored by being re-
elected its president. Other offic-
ers reelected to serve during the
year include Clarence E. Pool, Nc
Donough, vice-president; Miss S.
Couelia Bowman, Wilmington,
secretary; George Janvier, Middle
town, treasurer; trustees, Mrs. Ed
gar Hobbs Arnold, Greenwich,
Conn; David Q. Aspril, Whining
ton; D. Stewart Craven, Salem, N.
J.; Frank Davis, Odessa; Miss Hell
en- S. Garrett, Wilmington; j. Will
lard Humphrey, Claymont; F. DELI
| Janvier, New Castle; Mrs. Gaze
move C. Lee, Jr., Washington, DC;
Mrs. Bessie A. Mills Moore, Wash
ington, D. c.; U. S. Judge John P.
Nie1ds, Wilmington; Howard A.
Pool, Middletown; Joseph II. Uugh,
Haverford, Pa; William F. Sellers,
Edge More; James t. Shallcross,
Middletown; S. D. Townsend, Will
mington; Christopher Vandegrift,
Wilmington. Descendants of form
er members of the church from
| Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washing
ton and all down the State attend
! ed, as well as number from other
places in Pennsylvania, Maryland
and Delaware. There was a con-
tingent from Smyrna. A friendly
relationship prevails throughout
! the entire reunion and huge bas-
/ kets of lunch were taken and shar-
ed in the grove adjoining the
church. The Colonial building it
self inspires reverence. Here, in
1773, during the pastorate of DR..
Read. this beautiful building was
planned and erected by the ances-
tors of many VINO attend the re-
union. The edifice is only opened
once a year, the first Sunday in
June. The interior of the church
is of white with green shutters on
the inside of two large windows on
either side Of the Colonial pulpit.
The original pews are now used
both on the lower floor and in the
/ BALCONY.