\ z5 ' A DISCOURSE, PREACHEt) IN THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PLATTSBURGH, October 1st. 1847. The 50th Anniversary of its, Formation. By Rev. DAVID DOBIE, £SOS_£a=. PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. PLATTSBURGH, N. Y. S. B. FA1EMAN, PRINTER. 1847. DISCOURSE. I Samuel, 19: 7. Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord, of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and to your fathers. ' Fifty years have finished their course since this Church was formed ! and to day we keep a jubilee to commemorate the event, to recall the doings of God with out Fathers, to bless his name for his acts of kindness and mercy towards them, and to refresh our minds in his presence, with a calm and intelligent consideration of the responsibilities which have devolved upon us in respect to the goodly heritage bequeathed to us from their hands. And if we be interrogated as to the propriety of this jubilee, we say, that respect fur the customs of the people of God in all ages, a desire to keep alive the memory of the righteous dead, gratitude for the institutions which they founded, thankfulness to God for putting it into their hearts to care for our spiritual wants, and a just regard for the religious welfare of our children , waiting to fill our places, in this house of God — are the chief considerations which prompt us to the observance of this day. We could not let it pass unnoticed without injustice to ourselves, to the good men whose names are connected with it, and to the sacred principles, which as a Church of Christ we are pledged to maintain and propagate among men. The formation of a. Christian Church is no ordinary event. It may be followed by results ofthe most cheering character. It may be the means of preserving and establishing the healthful principles of the word of life in the hearts of many generations, and thus, of securing temporal prosperity and spiritual elevation to thousands, who otherwise had lived in wretchedness, and died in ignorance of the grace of God. — Such an event therefore deserves to be remembered; and, we keep this fiftieth anniversary, not out of any superstitious regard for the good men who at first composed this Church.. nor out of any desire to institute comparisons between the principles by which they were guided and the principles of other Churches in our neighborhood from which we differ, but from a laudable purpose of doing honor to the memory of those who have gone before us, and of recording, for cur own benefit, and the benefit of our children, the tokens of the Divine favor, which they enjoyed as a Church, formed on the principles of the Gospel", and frequently refreshed by the Spirit of God. "Now therefore stand still, that I'rnay reason with yoa before the Lord, of all the righteous acts ofthe Lord, which- he did to you, and to your Fathers." My task is chiefly that ofthe historian, and I could have wished, for the sake of those who hear me, and for t!ie honor due to their Fathers, that this task had fallen into other hands, who, from a personal recollection ofthe events, could have skillfully drawn a true portrait of these fifty years ; a' a portrait which you could have recognized, and which of itself would have carried you pleasantly back to the days of your childhood, reproduced vividly the recollections of God's goodness to you then, and thus deeply impressed your hearts with your obligations to God, and to those who have gone before you. But all that I can bn'ng with me to this task, is an honest purpose to speak the truth, so far as it is known to me, a sincere conviction that the Founders of this Church deserve to be remembered, and an ardent desire to do what lieth in my power, thus to preserve their memory, and to recommend their zealr faith, and self denial to you their children, and to all whom 1 have, on this occasion, the privilege of addressing. If these be qualifications for this taskr I may hope to acquit myself somewhat to your satisfaction. I. In entering upon the history of this Church, itgives me great pleasure to record the fact, that its first members wero chiefly New England Puritans ; a class of men, of whonn 'the world has had good occasion to know somewhat, and from whose influence the world will not be easily, nor speedily delivered. With very few exceptions, they all came from tha cherished homes ofthe Puritans; they bore names, famous in the genealogies of that wonderful people; they had stood in their lot during the national stiuggle for indepen dence ! and they had suffered in property, in life and limb, in the battles which were fought to achieve it. But what was more perhaps lo their honor, when they removed tp this region, then an unbroken wilderness, they brought with them the Puritan ideas of the nature and order ofthe Christian Church. Freedom from all unnecessary formality in the service of God; freedom to choose their own religious teachers, in public meeting assembled ; freedom to hold, and to man age their own ecclesiastical property, by their own votes ; the equality of all ministers ofthe Gospel, in respect to au thority ; and the right of Christian Churches lo admit and to discipline their own members, according to the principles of the word of God, which was held to be supreme by them in all such matters — the distinctive principles ofthe Church to which we belong — they adopted, and were resolved to per petuate. Hence shortly after their settlement here, they took the necessary steps, first to provide themselves with the gos pel ministry ; and then to associate themselves together in the capacity of a Christian Church. As early as 1794 — 53 years ago — the Rev. Frederick Halse", a licentiate of the Presbytery of Long Island, through the influence of the Hon Judge Treadwell, visited this place, and for a lime preached from house to house. — In August of that year, he received a call from the people to settle among them. In November, he was -ordained an Evangelist, joined the Presbytery of Albany, and by that body was installed as Pastor, in Febuary 1796. On the 1st October of the year following, 50 years ago to day, a small band, of brethren was organized as a church of Christ, con sisting of eighteen persons; viz, Ezekiel Hubbard, John Stratton ; Abner Pomroy, Wm. Badlam, Mrs. Badlam, 6 Moses Corbin, Elizabeth Addoms, Catherine Hageman , Catherine Marsh, Lucretia Miller, Phoebe Platt, Esther Stratton, Mary Addoms, Mrs. Mix, Martha Coe, Stephen Mix, Wm. Pitt Platt, and John Culver. The three last made a profession of their faith for the first time ; the other fifteen had beeii members of churches, in the places from which they had come. To this little band oi disciples, the Lord's supper was for the first time admjnis- tred on the 1st Oct. 1797, in the Block house, on the Point, which at that time subserved the important purposes of a School house, a Church, a Court house, a Jail, and a Fort for the defence of the inhabitants. It was built originally for the purpose of repelling the Indians, who roamed through the forests, at that time covering the fields you now culti vate in peace. Of that old Block house, useful for so many purposes, many of my hearers must have distinct recollec tions. It is now taken down and the place where it stood will soon be forgotten ; but that day which saw the scene ofthe first season of Christian communioni within its walls will not be forgotten. Its influences will not be forgotten ; they will continue, we have every reason to believe, while the world stands. At the time this Church was formed, there was no Pres byterian Church on this side Salem in Washington county. The Pastor of the Salem Church, Rev. Mr. Warford, father of Judge John Warford, well known in this com munity some few years ago ; Rev. Mr. Williams of Cam bridge ; and the Rev. Dr. Coe, of the first Church in Troy; with an Elder from each of their Churches, were present at the installation of Mr. Halsey. There are those present to day, who were present on that memorable occasion ; but the little flock, and their Pastor have slept the sleep of Death. The decree which subjects all men to the stroke of the De stroyer, has prevailed against them ; not one remains, to share with their children the joys of this Christian Jubilee. But their memory remains ; the memory of the shrewd, conscientious Hubbard ; the guileless, devoted Stratton ; the indefatigable Platt ; the amiable, upright Halsey. And their works remain. They, and the flock over which they watched, were God's first workmen in this northern wilder ness ; and they lived long enough, by his grace, to see it blossom as the rose. Who can tell how much this whole community owes at this moment, to the fidelity and Chris tian character of these men. The period in which they lived was the forming period of the religious as well as civil character of this region. They were the first associated Church, and their influence was therefore more conspicuous, and, on that account, more efficient in impressing the minds of those around them in favor of the Gospel. They bore their testimony to the truth of God their Savior, when religion was not so much in fashion, as it is now; in one ofthe stormiest periods our world ever beheld, when the blasphe mous sentiments of the French Revolutionists threatened the overthrow of Religion in Europe, and poisoned the minds and corrupted the morals of thousands, even in this northern wilderness of the new world. During fourteen of these dreadful years — from 1796 to 1810, did the inoffensive Halsey watch over the flock, which during that period increased from IS to 85. Mr. Halsey seems to have been a favorite with those entering upon the important relations of the marriage state ; evidence of which I find in this, that he solemnized upwards of six hundred mar riages. He was eminent also as a friend of youth ; as a peace-maker ; and as a reprover of immorality ; his reproof being characterized by such suavity of tone and manner, that it seldom failed in its effect. Twenty seven years after his dismission from the Pastoral office, he was called to his rest in the grave, with this rare eulogium, tha,t he was a man who never made an enemy. Of those who united with the Church while he was Pastor, cnly six remain, to witness the solemnities of this day. II. Two years after Mr. Halsey's dismission, on the 16th Feb. 1812, was installed the Rev. Wm. R. Weeks, now of 8 Newark N. J. ; by the Presbytery of Columbia ; the Pres bytery of Champlain not having been formed until February 1814, two years afterwards. It would be impossible to con vey to your minds a correct representation of the state of religion, in this region, when Mr. Weeks entered upon the field of his labors as Pastor of this Church. It was the pe riod of threatened invasion and war. Great Britian had as serted the right to search the ships of all nations on the high seas, and to take from them by force, any deserters from her navy ; and she had actually put her pretensions into practice, in the case of ships belonging to these United States. The result was a declaration of war between the two governments ; and Canada being the neare>t point whence invasion could be made by land upon this territory, this region became at once the theatre of warlike preparations. The peaceful villa ges which now adorn the shores of this beautiful lake, were constantly astir with the tread of soldiers and the rolling of the drum. Patriotism, sometimes curiosity, led many even of the Church into the military camp, to the neglect of the house of God. Those who were not members of the Church, the men whose business was war, esteemed their profession the chief end of man. Their profession was a license for all their conduct. Profanity and intemperance set off a sol 'ier's reputation for courage and noble daring. The Sabbath was well nigh forgotten ; and the enemy — man's only enemy — came in like a flood. There were indeed exceptions even in the army. I might name one venerable General, whose kind heart and generous hand, and regard for the house of God and the Sabbath day, won for him a high reputation ; and whose steady course of fearing God was not interrupted by all the bustle and bravado of those ungodly times. But generally, then, as always, the influence of the soldiery and the spirit of war, were disastrous io the interests of religion. It is a question whether this place is free from that influ ence, even at this hour. But there is evidence on record that the Pastor of thia Church, and the Elders his spiritual assistants, were resolved that the discipline of Christ's house should be maintained, let the opposition from without be what it might. Witness their resolutions of the 12th April 1812; at which meeting were present the Pastor, John Stratton, Seth Rice, Wm. Pitt Platt, Jonathan Scribner and Thomas Tre,. dwell. Resolved— (hey say—" That it is expedient that the Congregation be divided intodistricts, and that each ruling Elder be assigned a particular district for his more immediate walch and care. And that it be his duty to visit from house to house, and converse freely with the people on the impor tant subject of religion ; and endeavor to make himself well acquainted with the state of their minds and to excite them to greater attention to the love and practice of living godli ness. Resolved; that we consider a participation in fashion able amusements to be utterly inconsistent with the spirit of the Gospel, a criminal waste of precious time, and a sinful conformity to the world, having a very pernicioustendency and therefore highly improper and inconsistent with a Christian profession. Resolved ; that we consider the practice of making journies on the Sabbath, to be a breach of that holy day, and as such highly improper and inconsistent with a Christian profession. Resolved, that we consider the neglect of family prayer to be highly criminal and inconsistent with a Christian profession. Resolved ; that we consider the children of professing parents to be in connection with the Church, and through their parents proper subjects of our watch and discipline. Resolved ; that we consider it the duly of those brethren who have conducted in such a manner as to bring a reproach upon the cause of Christ, to evidence their repentance by making a confession as public and extensive as the fault has been." These resolutions recorded only two months after the Pastor entered upon his charge, show with what firmness he meant to carry out the discipline of the house of God ; and I may just mention that on the same day in which these reso lutions were passed, no fewer than ten members ofthe Church 10 ' were called publicly to account for their conduct in viola ting the Sabbath, and joining in worldly amusements, among whom were some of the most prominent men in the Church. Those were times which tried men's souls. Chris tian men were literally made to pass through the fires of temptation ; and it is delightful to look back from this dis tance, and witness such evidence of fidelity on the part of the minister and elders. While iniquity abounded, the Church generally remained steadfast around the standard of the Gos pel, and appears to have increased both in numbers and in the grace of God. Mr. Weeks was dismissed in 1814, being much discouraged through the obstructions which the war threw in his way. III. Next followed the ministry of the Rev. Nath'l Hew- it, which lasted about two years. At his installation, on the 5th July 1815, the Rev. Joel Byington opened the services with prayer ; Rev. A. Parmelee preached the sermon ; .the charge was. given by the Rev. Mr. Lyon ; the right hand of fellowship by Rev. Mr. Haskill ; the concluding prayer was offered up by the Rev. Mr. Johnson. We have a view of the state of religion at that period, in a report of the Presbytery of Champlain, drawn up for pre sentation to the general assembly ; which I will quote in part. It is dated Potsdam Feb. 7, 1815. " A report of the missionary field within the bounds of the Presbytery of Champlain — including four counties, viz : Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St. Lawrence, being about 150 miles in length and 100 in breadth. The county of Essex contains about 10,000 inhabitants and 1 1 towns, a number of small Churches and but two licentiates. Most of the people are perishing for lack of vision. In the county of Clinton, which has an equal number of souls, there are five towns, four Churches, and but one licentiate, the war having driven three or dained preachers from their Churches. ^ Franklin contains about 4,000 inhabitants, 6 towns, 1 Church and two ordained ministers. Vice and ignorance generally prevail. In the county of St. Lawrence there are 14 towns and 9,000 in habitants, with 6 Churches, 3 ordained preachers and 1 licentiate ; ten towns are without the stated preaching of the gospel." It thus appears that Mr. Hewit entered upon his minis try when religion was in a very low state. But his labors were immediately followed with powerful and extensive re- II suits: The first year of his pastorship saw 84 added to the Church ; 79 on a profession of their faith. This great in crease, and the revived state of feeling in the community gave rise to the proposition to set off a certain number of the members, to form a second Church. This measure was consummated on the 2d April 1817 ; and the second Church was formed, in what is now known as Beekmantown. Their first Pastor, was the Rev. S. Kingsley ; and he was installed over them in this house on the 11th March 1818, about a year after the formation ofthe Church, on the same day and at the same hour, in which the Rev. Mr. Whelpley was installed'as Pastor of this Church. It was during the ministry of Mr. Hewit, that this house was finished and first regularly occupied for public worship. The foundation had been laid and the frame erected as early as 1812 ; but on account of the war, and the difficulty of raising the necessary funds it was not completed until 25th Dec. 1816. Three times in succession did its builders find it neccessary to increase their contributions ; and it deserves here to be mentioned, that not only the members of the Church, but members of the community took a deep interest in its com pletion and gave very liberally for that purpose. From its organization to the occupation of this house, the Church had worshipped first in the memorable Blockhouse ; then in the Court House, which was burned ; next in Israel Green's Ball room ; and then in the large hall of the Sper ry House, until they removed to this spacious Sanctuary ~r built chiefly by the unwearied labors and self denial of the indefatigable Elder Wm. Pitt Elatt, who in this mat ter seems to have displayed some of the distinguishing traits of his distinguished name-sake, the Prime Minister of Eng land ; sanctified to better purposes however, and the more deserving therefore of the gratitude of posterity. He spent the greater part of three years in superintending the work and in obtaining means for its completion. Let it be record ed also to the honor of his sister, Mrs. Brinkerhoff, that the lot of ground on which it stands, was her gift. On the day of its dedication, Mr. Hewit preached to a very large assembly, from these words : Ps. 90, 5. " Holi ness becometh thy House, 0 Lord, for ever" ; and the Rev. Dr. Austin, President of the University of Vermont, offered up the prayer of dedication, setting apart this House to the pure and spiritual worship of God for ever. 12 At the time, of its completion, there was no Presbyterian