The Weekly News
Chester, Orange County, ~
Vol. X., No. 48.
Thursday, June 2, 1898.
Presbyterian Church Centennial.
First Church Built in 1798.
The Chester Presbyterian Church has been making history under a church roof in Orange county for a hundred years. For almost it, half century previous to that she had been holding her serves from house to house and in the school house.
The timber for a church has been cut when the Revolutionary war broke out the logs were left to rot where they had fallen while the men went to build the greatest Republic of all times. The war of Independence ended and the people again settled to their daily task, began to talk of building a church. Abijah Yelverton contributed a large lot opposite the store of J. Durland & Son. In 1797 a little log church was erected a little to the rear of Dr. Carpenter's present spacious residence, a part of the lot was also used as a cemetery, some of the old stones erected still remaining to show the last resting place of some of the saints of those early days. The church was easily distinguished by the passing stranger as a place of worship. In 1798 the church has opened for worship.
For thirty years several ministers Revs. S. R. Jones, (1798-1805) Daniel Crane, (l805-1808) Noah Coe, 1811-1814) James H. Thomas, (1814-1837), preached in the little log church and the Lord blessed their labors. There was a little uncertainty as to the character of the denomination at first. The trend seemed to be toward Presbyterianism from the first and slowly as the congregation became stronger and more able to direct its affairs it swung into line with the General Assembly Presbyterian church in 1818.
About 1825 the little church began to fell its limitations and crude surroundings. The people also felt that the drift of the population was toward East Chester and that it would be a great advantage to have the church located in that vicinity. A lot was secured where the Chester cemetery is now located and in 1829 a church erected a little more in keeping with the thrift and progress of the people.
During the next ten years great numbers were added to the church and the building was found too small. Mr. Geo. F. Banker, who is still living in Chester, and was then the popular builder, was secured to build an addition on the rear and put in a number of additional pews.
Still the building proved to be unadapted to the circumstances and growth of the people. The Erie Railroad having come within a half mile of East Chester started the settlement of the people in an other direction.
The Methodist church having erected a neat structure in this new part of the village it stirred up the Presbyterians to talk of a better church and a new location. Rev. Dr. James Wood was the pastor at the time and showed great wisdom in both the location and place of the new church. The present edifice erected in 1853 and dedicated Jan. 4th 1854, to which thirty years later a handsome chapel was added under the pastorate of Rev. T. C. Beattie.
Second Church, Built 1829
Sketch by Razey
Present Church, Built in 1853, and Parsonage.
Rev. Robert H. McCready, Ph.D.
Present Pastor of the Church
A Cloudburst.
On Tuesday of last week the heavy storm which passed over Chester terminated in a cloudburst at Wurtsboro Sullivan county. At about 2:30 it occurred and water flowing down the mountains in an immense flood, washed out trees, bushes, stumps, and rubbish which formed a dam above the village causing the water to flow through streets to the canal below the village. Considerable damage was done.
Rev. Warren Hathaway.
Subject of this sketch in one of the ??? ministers of Orange county, he has been minister of Blooming Grove church ??? two years. Mr. Hathaway has often ??? letters asking the cause of this ??? pastorate and in answer he has usually given tow reasons, one that he leaves ??? music entirely to the chorister ??? and the financial business of the church to the trustees and other officers. It is notable that an attendant of his services might find other reasons.
S??? do we see pastor and preacher ?? in one person in any large de??? Warren Hathaway in the preacher ??? from the pastor, he is an easy maker of the conversational style ??? reads a sermon of is confin??? his notes; yet his sermons are ???th great care and much re?? ??tly embellished with fine ??? apt illustrations; often as ??? his theme there come to ??? of thought, fresh glimpses ??? of pulpit inspiration which ??? interest but hold his hearers.
??? Hathaway seeks to keep abreast of ??? on all the subjects of the day, ??bings have no special charm be?? ??eir novelty of find a ready wel?? must come hearing the impress ??? not lessened his inter?? ??? ??? ??rty years ago.
??way started in life with the ??? being a lawyer, going to Oberline ???, Ohio to complete his Academic ??? ??tion, he came under the strong religious influence of that school and especially the power of President Kinney, there was converted and led to devote himself to the Christian ministry.
Theologically he would be classed as a liberal, yet his liberalism is so conservative that he firmly believes in the one great Master and bows to the gracious command of One Father - holding to the miraculous in historic Christianity and teaching the supreme authority of Scripture as given by the inspiration of God.
Mr. Hathaway has never visited the Orient, but often his vivid descriptions of the that land of miracles, where were enacted Old Testament scenes, in which he is particularly at home, would warrant it; but his library is his Palestine, his Jerusalem.
A lady attendant of his church once complaining to a friend, of her pastor's infrequent calls, let him down softly by saying: "but if he visited more he couldn't give us such good sermons." Possessed of a warm, sympathetic nature.
With quick sensibilities, Mr. Hathaway instinctly weeps with those that weeps and rejoice and must of necessity have much of the pastoral in his labors. The numberless funerals that he is called to attend cost him much of soul experience - draw something in his own inner life.
Rev. Warren Hathaway, D. D., of Blooming Grove, will deliver the Centennial address next Sunday evening, in the Presbyterian church.
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Real Estate Notes.
The Oscar H. Shaw farm of 224 acres near Howells, was sold for $7,000 to Daniel S. Slauson, at a foreclosure sale.
The Commings farm of 147 acres, near Slate Hill is advertised to be sold at foreclosure. The farm buildings are among the most expensive in Orange County.
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SUSSEX COUNTY.
The M. E. church at Lafayette was struck by lightning on Tuesday of last week and burned. The building was insured for $1,800. The loss is estimated at about $3,000. The contents of the church were saved.
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Horse Notes ï
John Dickerson, of Goshen, will train Joe Patchen pacer, 2:10 1/2.
Arrangements are being made for three days' races at New Paltz, the first week in August.
Roy Miller, of Chester, who handles the trotters of the Plants stables has shipped his string to Charter Oak Park from Salem, Alaska.
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Charles E. Allison
Mr. Allison, who is one of the Chester boys that has made success of life will be with us to speak on Monday evening, June 6.
The "History of the Allison in Europe and the United States," by Leonard Allison Morrison, A. M., contains biographies of the Orange county Allisons. The volume records that the Rev. Charles Elmer Allison is a descendant, in the sixth generation, of Joseph Allison, who resided at Sarthhold, Lay Island, in 1721, and migrated to Goshen, having purchased lands designated as the "Allison tract" in the Wawayanda Patent. On his maternal side ??? ??? Rev. ??? ??? Mass??? ??? ??? the??? ooker ??? ??? original proprieters of the site of that city ??? that line were the physicians, Dr. ??? Elmer, Sr., of Florida, N. Y. and Dr. Wm. Elmer, of Goshen, N. Y.
One of Rev. Mr. Allisons ancestors was Wm. Allison, an officer of the American Revolution, who, as Colonel, commanded Orange county troops at the battle of Fort Montgomery, in 1777, where he was captured and where his son was killed. Wm. Allison was a Brigadier General of Orange county troops in 1782, a member of the Provincial Convention of New York from 1775 to 1777, and State Senator for the terms 1783-86.
Isaac W. Allison and Teresa A. Elmer, his wife, the parents of the Rev. Charles Elmer Allison, removed from the "old homestead," near Elenville, N. Y., to Chester when their sons, Howard and Charles E., were little lads. Isaac W. Allison was for many years a merchant in Chester. He served the town one term as town clerk. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. He died in Chester in 1887. His wife was devoted to the church. His life was rich in courage and sweet with tenderness. During the civil war she was Secretary of a society of Chester ladies which furnished articles for the Sanitary commission, to distribute among the Union soldiers in hospital and camp. Rev. Charles E. Allison, writing of her, quotes these lines: "Happy he with such a mother; faith in womankind beats with his blood, and trust in all things high comes easy to him."
Mr. Allison dies in Chester in 1870. Both his parents loved learning, and made many sacrifices that their sons might have a liberal education. Both son prepared to college at Chester academy, Howard graduated at Hamilton college in 1867. He resides now at Mt. Vernon, N. Y. He is an attorney at law in New York city in the office of the American Surety Co., which was founded by his cousin the late Hon.. Richard Allison Elmer, second assistant postmaster general.
The Rev. Charles Elmer Allison united ??? ??? ??? 1874. Mr. Allison ??? Presbytery of Hudson, and ordained by Westchester Presbytery, April 30, 1879 - the day when Dayspring was first enrolled as a church.
Mr. Allison came to that enterprise from his seminary in 1873; at first comon on Saturday and returning each Monday. When organized, Dayspring had 94 members; in 1897 the enrollment was 436. The Dayspring sabbath school has likewise grown from 60 to 425 members. Nearly 25 years of such active services - is an unusual record in these days. As senior pastor of the city, he recently succeeded Dr. Cole as President of the Yonkers Clerical Association.
Mr. Allison published, in 1889, "Historical Sketch of Hamilton College;" and in 1896, was published his memorable "History of Yonkers."
Mr. Allison is the genial story-teller, ready wit, and popular after dinner speaker of the city. What fraternity, banquet, or society supper is complete without him?
He is an indefatigable worker, a sympathizing pastor, a lover of children, a strong, impressive preacher, and an all-round friend.
His parish includes the people of every church, and he is equally the friend of the wealthy and poor. He is a staunch friend of temperance. He was Moderator of the Presbytery in 1886. When the new Dayspring Church rises to its completion, it will be a fitting monument to his personal impress upon the city.
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Farm Notes ï
Prof. H. E. VanDeman, U. S. Pomologist, in an article in the Annual report of the State Board of Agriculture for 1897,'on suitable Manures for fruits says: "In ordinary soils and with almost any species or variety of fruit, where nitrogenous crops or stable manures have not been largely used there will be favorable results from the following mixture:
Muriate of Potash. . . . . . . . . .200 lbs.
Dissolved bone. . . . . . . . . . . .200 lbs.
Nitrate of soda. . . . . . . . .100 lbs.
John Brown, a farmer living near Ottisville, had 22 sheep killed or injured by dogs last week.
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The Sloatsburg Murder Case.
In Rockland County Supreme court, Judge Gaynor presiding, the Kenny murder at Sloatsburgh was considered by calling up the indictments. Maria De Fabio was found guilty of murder in the second degree, and Kaffrelo DeFabio acquitted.
Pasqual Biancardi and daughter, Pasqualine Biancardi, were discharged, there not being evidence enough to hold them.
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Low Handle Bars Injurious.
The surgeons who have been making examinations of the members of the militia volunteers will make reports that will be apt to discourage though it not extinguish, the bicycle habit, and particularly low handle bars. It is said at the medical department of the army that a great number of the volunteers who have been rejected for physical disability are bicycle riders, who, by violent exercises have developed diseases of the heart and the spine which unfit them for exposure and endurance. The
troubles are said to be confined almost entirely to riders who use low handle bars and lean forward in the saddle. This position not only induces curvature of the spine and other diseases in that part of the anatomy, but causes other organs to crowd the heart out of its place and produce irritation, which ultimately becomes chronic.
