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| Images found in Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, October 9, 1899.
THE CENTURY MARK
OF THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF HOMER.
The Forerunner of the Congregational Church of that Place—Anniversary Observed with Fitting Services—Historical Addresses— Letters from Former Residents.
The Congregational church of Homer never looked more beautiful in its interior than it did Sunday when the one-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the First Religious Society of Homer was observed. The decorations were very pleasing to the eye. Besides the potted plants and ropes of evergreen, pictures of nine of the former pastors helped to add to the artistic effect. On either side of the pulpit clothed in green were the figures 1799 and 1899.
The First Religious Society of Homer was the forerunner of the Congregational church of that place. A hundred years ago the settlement of Homer had been begun, and the people desired a church organization. But several denominations were represented and none of them was strong enough to start a church by itself. The result was that they decided to form an undenominational society and secure preachers as they could from the several denominations. Thus the First Religious Society of Homer, as it was called, was formed in 1799. Two years later it was decided to change this into a Congregational church. The anniversary of the organization of the society, was observed yesterday, that of the church will be observed two years from this time.
The congregation at yesterday's service was a large one and comprised, not only regular attendants of the church, but many from Cortland, and other places whose ancestors had belonged to this first society or to the church organization which grew out of it. The entire program of exercises was as follows:
After interesting opening exercises a historical address was given by Deacon Coleman Hitchcock, which is published full below.
This was followed by a very stirring address by Rev. F. A. S. Storer of Syracuse, in which he spoke of the dangers of living too much in the past. A past history of noble lives and deeds is good only so far as it acts as an incentive to noble lives. He congratulated the society on its present attainments and predicted for it years of increasing usefulness.
Rev. Edward W. Hitchcock, D. D., of Philadelphia, a former Homerite, gave some delightful reminiscences of conditions the early settlers had to encounter and also produced a most valuable document, having the sign and seal of the court of Onondaga county to which Homer then belonged. It was a charter granted in 1797 to organize a Presbyterian church in Homer. The doctor proceeded to show that after securing this privilege they found it impracticable to organize a Presbyterian church on account of the opposition from different denominations represented in the town. Hence in 1769, two years later, the First Religious society of Homer was organized as a compromise, and in 1801 the Congregational church was organized from that. He paid eloquent tribute to those early settlers who thus buried their own personal preferences for the larger good. His references to the pastors of the church were very touching.
The pastor then read letters from some of the former pastors, and others identified with the church. One was from Rev. Dr. John C. Holbrook, who is now living in Stockton, Cal., at the age of 91 years. Another was from Rev. Dr. William A. Robinson, for twenty-one years pastor of the church, but is now serving as pastor of the First Congregational church of Middletown, N. Y. Another was from Rev. E. C. Olney, now residing in Missouri. There was also a letter from Rev. T. T. Munger, D. D., who was not a pastor but who was for many years connected with both church and academy and who is now an honor to both. Another letter was from Rev. Dr. Henry A. Nelson, a native of this county, who was for many years prominently connected with its religious life.
Another highly pleasing feature of the program was the presentation to the church by the pastor of the portraits of nine of the twelve pastors. For some years there has been in the church a fine portrait of Rev. Dr. Robinson, but the portraits were secured of all the others except the first two which could not be obtained, and that of the present pastor who says he is himself a living picture for his people. These were enlarged to a uniform size of 16 by 20 inches and handsomely framed in oak, and all are now hung in prominent places in the church. Memorial tributes to the first two pastors are to be inscribed and framed like the others and hung in the church. The entire list of pastors with their dates of service is as follows:
Nathan B. Darrow, 1803-1808.
Elnathan Walker, 1809-1820.
John Keep, 1821-1833.
Dennis Platt, 1834-1842.
Thomas K. Fessenden, 1843-1853.
J. Addison Priest, 1855-1858.
Albert Bigelow, 1858-1863.
John C. Holbrook, D. D., 1865-1870.
William A. Robinson, D.D., 1871-1892.
Eugene C. Olney, 1892-1894.
Frederick A. S. Storer, 1895-1898.
William F. Kettle, 1898—
The music for this service was rendered by the choir consisting of Miss Carolyn Arnold, soprano; Mrs. W. E. Burdick, alto; Mr. R. J. McElheny, tenor; Mr. Albert Paddock, bass; with Mrs. W. H. Foster at the organ. While the church is fortunate in having so excellent a choir and in the high class of music at every service the special program for this anniversary day was of unusual excellence both in its appropriateness and in its rendition, and it added very materially to the enjoyment of this service.
RALLY DAY IN SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
It was rally day in Sunday-school and nearly the entire congregation remained and the anniversary exercises were continued in spirit in the school.
The following program was rendered:
Hymn.
Devotional Exercises Conducted by Rev. F. A. S. Storer.
Rollcall of classes 1 to 6.
Hymn.
Rollcall of classes 7 to 14.
Solo—Never Alone, Miss Carolyn Arnold
Rollcall of classes 15 to 20.
Hymn.
Rollcall of classes in primary department.
Solo and Chorus, Miss S. S. Pomeroy and School
Remarks.
Hymn.
Benediction.
The officers of the school are:
Superintendent-—Dr. J. W. Whitney.
Assistant—F. E. Davis.
Secretary—C. R. Merrill.
Treasurer—E. H. Knapp.
Librarians—F. V. Bennett, A. Crampton.
Organist—Mrs. Florence Maxson.
Assistant—Mrs. E. H. Tuthill.
Chorister—Henry Hull.
Superintendent Primary Department—Mrs. C. A. Watson.
Assistant—Miss Annie Daniels.
Superintendent Home Department—Mrs. Walter Jones.
Secretary and Treasurer of Home Department—Miss Mary Ferguson.
The teachers in the adult department are as follows, the names following the numbers of the classes: Miss Hattie Green; Mrs. Jennie Crampton, Rev. W. F. Kettle, Deacon E. G. Ranney, Mrs. Charles H. Stevens, Mrs. W. H. Foster, Mrs. Walter H. Jones, Deacon D. C. Carpenter, Miss Mabel E. Fuller, Mr. Wm. A. Bean, Miss Jessie Stevens, Mrs. W. F. Kettle, Mrs. E. W. Hyatt, Mr. Thurlow Blackman, Miss S. S. Pomeroy, Mrs. C. R. Merrill, Miss Maud Whitney, Mrs. Florence Maxson.
The teachers in the primary department are as follows: Mrs. Frank Rice, Mrs. Fannie Sessions, Miss Florence Crampton, Miss Nancy Hull, Mrs. Mary Friar, Miss Ethelyn Rumsey.
The total membership of the school is 441.
DEACON HITCHCOCK'S HISTORICAL PAPER.
The following is the historical paper presented by Deacon Coleman Hitchcock:
To-day we commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the First Religious Society of Homer which, though a century has passed since its organization, is still young and vigorous and good for another hundred years. In fact, it seems perennial and until the grand work of the church is accomplished and the millennial day is ushered in will doubtless be as active and efficient as in the days gone by.
The few minutes allotted to this report will allow little or no detail. Although the records cover the pages of two quarto volumes we can only give the salient parts of its history. It seems due to the memory of the faithful ministers who have labored here and have done so grand and noble a work that more than a passing notice of their call and dismissal should be given. An account of their faithful service will be given in the history of the church at its anniversary soon to come.
The settlement of the town was commenced in 1791 by Amos Todd and Spencer Beebe. In 1792 some few persons from Binghamton found their way here. In 1795-96 several families from Brimfield, Mass., and Farmington, Ct., moved here, and were soon followed by others from New England, so that this became a typical New England colony. They were earnest Christian men and women who brought their religious convictions with them as well as their household goods, and very soon commenced religious worship and were visited by missionaries, and an occasional preaching service was enjoyed until the church was formed. The first sermon was by the Rev. Asa Hillyer who found the people collected in large numbers at a house raising, and under the spreading branches of the trees in the primeval forest they listened to a gospel sermon. No doubt they felt as King David did when he cried out, "My soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord."
In 1795 the first schoolhouse was built of logs and was also used for religious worship. In 1799 a larger and more commodious combined school and church building was erected on the northeast corner of the village green in which meetings were held for several years and until the first meeting house was built.
In 1799 the First Religious Society of Homer was formed, and at a meeting called for that purpose the following preamble was read:
"Actuated as well by a sense of duty to the Supreme Being as by the persuasion that our welfare as individuals and the happiness of society depends upon the establishment of religious institutions, we whose names are hereto subscribed pledge ourselves to use our utmost exertions to effect so desirable a purpose.
"That we will meet on the 25th of November, 1799, at the gristmill In Homer to elect trustees and to take into consideration the building of a meetinghouse, decide upon its location, the calling of a minister, etc., etc.
ELIPHALET RICE,
MOSES KINNEY,
LEWIS S. OWEN,
SOLOMON HUBBARD,
JOSHUA BALLARD,
MR. GRAVES.
And at this time the First Religious society commenced its good work which for 100 years has been well and faithfully done. In December, 1802, the society at the request of the church which had been organized the previous year extended a call to Rev. Nathan Darrow to become its pastor. Rev. Mr. Jones had in the meantime preached as stated supply.
About this time Deacon Charles Chamberlain donated to the society the six acres of land which became our village green. Mr. Darrow accepted the call at a salary of $300 with an increase of $10 per year until it reached $400. The salary was to be paid one-half in wheat of good [measureable] quality at the market price, and one-half in cash. Both the church and Mr. Darrow gave their bonds, drawn in legal form for the faithful performance of their obligations. The subscription list is on record and with the amounts opposite the names is something of a curiosity. There were only three whose pledge for the support of the gospel was $1.60 for the year, four at $1, thirty-six at 50 cents, twenty at 25 cents and one hundred at 12 1/2cents. This seems plainly to indicate a day of small things, but doubtless it was proportionately as much for the men of that day as is paid by the people now. But the subsequent history of the society teaches us not to despise the day of small things. First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.
A large number of those on record have borne Scriptural names which date back to the time of Noah and down through the patriarchal line of the prophets, priests and kings: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Gad, Moses and Aaron, Joshua, David and Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, Peleg and Admatha, and a host of others too numerous to mention. Many of them have their worthy representatives in the church and society of to-day.
They builded better than they knew
To God and their convictions true.
And left for good upon the race
An impress time will ne'er effect.
In 1805 the first church edifice was erected. It was four years in building and was paid for in four installments. It was a large and commodious building 72 feet deep and 50 feet wide with a gallery running all around it, and it seated 800 or 900 people.
In 1808 Mr. Darrow offered his resignation and was dismissed. In July, 1809, the Rev. Elnathan Walker was called. He was ordained by the Middle association in October. Large additions to the church and society were made during his ministry. He labored faithfully until his health failed, and he died June 4, 1820. A monument was erected to his memory by the society as a tribute to his worth and faithful ministration.
The Rev. John Keep was next called and accepted conditionally. One of the conditions was that Mrs. Keep should not be expected to do pastoral work in visiting except as she chose. This condition and others were acceded to and Mr. Keep was settled as pastor in November, 1821.
In 1822 stoves were introduced. The people had met here for seventeen years with no means of warming the room except the few small portable foot stoves which some of the good sisters carried to church with them and kindly passed from seat to seat.
In 1819 the society granted to the trustees of the academy the right to build on the site where the school is now located.
In 1824 the church edifice was thoroughly repaired, refitted and rededicated. In 1833 land was granted to the Episcopal church for the erection of a church edifice.
Mr. Keep labored until 1833 and his labors were crowned with success. In October of that year he resigned and was dismissed. The society and church both increased in numbers during his ministry. He was afterward connected with Oberlin College, and still later visited England in the interest of the American Missionary association and was very successful in raising money for educational purposes among the freedmen in the South.
The Rev. Dennis Platt was the next pastor called by the society. He commenced his labors in 1834. He preached and labored faithfully for eight years with good results, there being eighty-two added to the church during his ministry. He was dismissed at his own request in 1842.
In the year 1846 the trustees of school district, No. 20, asked permission to build a schoolhouse on the southwest corner of the green, which was granted and in the rear of the place where the Methodist church now stands a schoolhouse was erected and used as such for many years.
Rev. Thomas K. Fessenden succeeded Mr. Platt. He commenced his labors in 1843. There were large additions to the church during his pastorate of eleven years. Many will remember Mr. Fessenden as a man of rare social qualities, an indefatigable worker who left many warm friends outside of the society and church as well as among his people. He was dismissed at his own request in 1858. He was for two years a member of the legislature of Connecticut and for a time connected with the Hampton institute in Virginia. Dr. Thomas Lounsbury preached the following year as a supply.
In 1853 an effort was made to induce the pew owners to give up their deeds to the society for the purpose of raising funds for the support of the gospel by assessing the pews. In 1856 this was accomplished and for a while this plan was pursued, but the envelope system as in use to-day was soon adopted and has ever since been practiced.
In 1855 Rev. J. A. Priest was called to the pastorate and was soon installed. A powerful revival was enjoyed under his ministry and eighty-two were added to the church. He was on account of ill health obliged to offer his resignation after three years of acceptable service and was at his own wish dismissed in 1858.
The society next called the Rev. Albert Bigelow, and during his ministry this large commodious house of worship was built and was dedicated in 1863. In October of this year Mr. Bigelow resigned and was dismissed, and Dr. J. C. Holbrook, a veteran Congregationalist, was soon called. He was installed in 1864 and remained till 1870. His labors were blest to the people. Large additions to the numbers of worshipers were made. The State association met here in 1868. Dr. Holbrook resigned and was dismissed in 1870. He is still living and will doubtless be heard from during the course of this service.
In 1871 Rev. Dr. William A. Robinson was invited to become the pastor and accepting was installed Dec. 13. Dr. Robinson's pastorate was of longer duration than any other in the history of the society. He labored acceptably and faithfully and the number of worshipers largely increased during his pastorate of twenty-one years. In 1875 the church edifice was renovated at an expense of more than $1,200. In 1873 the State association met here. And later the large addition to the church in its rear was built which has proved so useful and convenient for social worship and for all the purposes of the society. In 1892 Dr. Robinson was granted a leave of absence to attend the meeting of the International Congregational council which met in London and to which he was appointed a delegate. Soon after his return he received a call elsewhere and at his own request was dismissed.
The next pastor called was Rev. E. C Olney in 1892. He accepted the call and served the church in the capacity of pastor for two years when he resigned and was dismissed in 1894. Mr. Olney was an able preacher and a man remarkably well versed in the Scriptures.
Mr. Olney was succeeded by Rev. F. A. S. Storer who preached as supply for several months and then received an unanimous call to the pulpit. He accepted in February, 1895, and for three years labored faithfully and endeared himself to the people here, especially to the young people of the church and society. In 1898 he offered his resignation which was accepted and he was dismissed.
The next pastor whom the society called was Rev. W. F. Kettle of Rochester. He was invited to supply for two Sabbaths and was then given an unanimous call to become the pastor, to which was given a favorable reply, and he has labored with acceptance and with a largely increased attendance at the meetings, and a number have been added to the church. Since his coming the society has secured a parsonage, a long felt need, the same being fully paid for and considerably improved. It is beautiful for situation, the joy of the society, the church and the pastor who it is hoped will remain and enjoy its shelter for many years to come.
The society is at the present time free from debt and in a good prosperous condition, with an efficient and faithful board of trustees, and a clerk and treasurer who seem to be the right men in the right places.
Of the twelve faithful pastors who ministered to the church and society, seven have gone to their reward, and their works do follow them.
Tho' dead, they speak in reason's ear
And in experience live;
Their faith and love and mighty deeds
Shall fresh instruction give.
The good result of their labors by the blessing of God will not be fully known until in eternity it is revealed to us how many were saved by grace though faith under the faithful preaching and ministrations of love enjoyed here.
Five still live and are doing the Master's work—some as pastors, others in different parts of the Lord's vineyard. And may all have many souls as seals of their ministry and as crowns of their rejoicing.
In closing this very meager report allow me to express what no doubt all have felt—that too much cannot be said in commendation of those who have acted as trustees, treasurers and clerks of the society, serving on committees, circulating subscriptions often headed with their own names for generous amounts, safely conducting the affairs of the society through financial straits in the building of its churches and chapels and attending to the constant need of repairs, refitting, refurnishing, decorating, and the thousand and one items of detail too numerous to mention—all without hope of other reward than the consciousness of having cheerfully performed their duties for the good of the church and society and largely contributing to the success of both.
LETTER FROM REV. HENRY A. NELSON, D. D.
Rev. Wm. F. Kettle, Homer, N. Y.:
DEAR BROTHER—Your letter of the 25th last, forwarded from Wooster, O., has reached me here to-day. I am visiting my eldest daughter, the wife of Rev. Henry Bullard, D. D., in this house to which he brought her as a bride twenty-eight years ago. They have two sons, one a graduate of Amherst college, class of 1896, and now a student in Auburn Theological seminary; the other a freshman in Hamilton college. Their daughter, aged twenty-three years, is with them in this pleasant home, her birthplace.
Seventy years ago I was a Sunday school scholar in the church of which you are pastor; and sixty-eight years ago (May, 1831) I was kindly welcomed into full communion.
At the end of one more month I shall reach my 79th birthday. So nearly an octogenarian I look far back to my life in Homer with tender, serious, thankful reminiscence. My student days in the dear old academy, 1832-37, my teaching days, 1841-43, and the dozen or more subsequent years of student and pastoral life and service in Auburn, near enough for frequent visits to Homer, are held in memory most gratefully—none the less, but all the more for the happy and memorable subsequent years.
For all that happy sequel, next to the godly parents through whom I inherit the blessings of God's everlasting covenant, I am indebted to the motherly care and love of the Homer church securing to me the thorough instruction of Cortland academy and the Christian influence which she shed around my boyhood. After my parents I have had no teachers more worthy of my honor and gratitude than S. B. Woolworth and Abel F. Kinney. But I have been richly blessed with faithful and able teachers, generous fellow students, dutiful pupils and affectionate peoples accepting me as pastor, and generous readers of what I have written or edited through my long life.
At the end of my 77th year I retired from all public and official employment and am now living quietly with two dear daughters at Wooster, where we enjoy the fellowship of many missionaries and missionaries' children enjoying the privileges of the Christian university located there, and naturally drawing about it families who appreciate such privileges. It generates a social, intellectual and spiritual atmosphere that is most genial. The goodness and mercy that have followed me all the days of my life do not fail me in my old age.
This day is twenty-one years from the day on which my six children stood with me at the open grave of their mother. They all are living still—my eldest son a physician in St. Louis; my eldest daughter here; two unmarried daughters taking care of me at our home; one daughter and one son missionaries in Syria. Five granddaughters and seven grandsons are adding to my happiness and my hopes of continual usefulness. All that I have and hope has grateful association in my memory with the church now completing its first century. May its life and health and holy influence continue through all coming centuries, until the coming of the Lord. Gratefully and Fraternally, HENRY A. NELSON.
LETTER FROM REV. T. T. MUNGER, D. D.
NEW HAVEN, Ct., Oct. 5, 1899.
MY DEAR MR. KETTLE—I regret that owing to my attendance on the International council I have been unable to give due attention to your letter of Sept. 25 in which you ask me to give you some word to be read at the one hundredth anniversary of the First Religious Society of Homer.
Your letter touches a responsive chord in my heart. There is no spot on earth I have loved and still love so well. I have lived in many places since I left Homer and by chance all have been very beautiful, but none of them fills the place in my heart that Homer does, for it was there that the first strong passions of life began to be felt—love of parents and home and companions—all intense and undying in me, and hardly to be recalled without tears. My memory of Homer reaches back to 1836 when my father brought his family to the village for the sake of the advantages of the academy. I have seen Rome and London, but nothing in either city ever impressed me half so deeply as the great building burned some years ago, and the old church which I still think of far oftener than of St. Peter's or Westminster or any church in which I have preached. Nor have I ever felt more deeply on the great themes of religion than when as a boy between the ages of 10 and 15 I sat in the pews of the old church and, without understanding a word of the sermons, absorbed the spirit of the place and the worship. And for nothing in all the good things that have come to me in my long life am I more grateful than that I was brought to church by my parents from my earliest remembrance, and through them and their goodly lives became a partaker of the [life] and spirit of the church in Homer. I was not baptized in it, nor did I become a member of it, but I feel that my spiritual life began in it and that I still belong to it by ties that are [stronger] than outward confession.
But now nearly all my outward relations to it are but memories; there are only a few left when I can associate with the days when I "went to meeting," as the phrase was sixty years ago. Time and change have swept them away, but how sweet and reverent is their memory. I wish I could impress upon the present generation a sense of the great worth and real dignity and nobleness of character of the founders of the town and church. I trust some historian may be with you who will describe both their lives and their deeds, and praise their wisdom in building church and academy side by side so that both entered into the lives of the people, and to this day lead many—now widely scattered—to thank God that they were brought up in the church and academy of Homer.
May God bless the dear old town and keep the church a witness and a teacher of true religion and Christian morality.
Very truly yours, T. T. MUNGER.
The letters of Rev. J. C. Holbrook and Rev. Wm. A. Robinson, D. D., will be published to-morrow.
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