Page 38
History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
Page 38
The gathering throng, with intervals between, both long and many, all bending their way to the house of God, assemble from all directions, and crowd the temple gate. Now the loud and solemn voice of the people is lifted in a song of praise. Its volume rises on the air like incense, and ascends a grateful offering from pious and devout worshippers. A pause ensues, still as the grave; the shepherd of the flock rises, and looking tip into heaven, invokes God to bless the people, and on the confession of their sins, to save them with his everlasting salvation. No tongue can tell the efficiency and blessed effects of one single prayer. But this army of worshippers also, has descended to the tomb, and the record of eternity alone can enumerate the host of immortal, called to glory from this ancient and modest building. We seek not to divest it of one sacred association, lest we injure the dead and insult the living. We would not, if we could, and leave the record, with its contents, to the pen of the recording angel.
“Twas a low building reared by pious hands,
‘Midst the deep foliage of the darksome wood,
Poor was its state, and many years had told
Their passing seasons o’er its humble roof;
Relentless time had grasped the lowly gate,
And crumbling dust bespoke its fearful might.
The mouldering door way and the falling walls,
The creaking pulpit and its aged cloth,
The glassless frames and time worn sacred book,
The worn out seats and cold forsaken aisle,
Seemed in the dimness of the evening shade
The fearful relics of departed years,
Untouched of earth and sacred made to Heaven.”
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But there was still another building, of deeper and more widely extended interest to the inhabitants of the village, than either the new building, the public building, or glebe school house, and as its existence was the basis of a future structure, still we trust broadly dispensing its benefits, we refer to it. The site now occupied by the First Presbyterian meeting house, during the Revolution was occupied by a public storehouse, for the accommodation of the army. When I the war closed, and the army left, this building was permitted to remain, and such of the citizens as were not disposed to worship in the glebe church, which was Episcopal, took possession of the store, and used it as a place of public worship for some years. By accident or design, this building was burned down, and a small congregation having been collected in the meantime, the destruction imposed the necessity of erecting another, which was done. If correctly informed, this also, in whole or part, was destroyed by fire; but be that as it may, the present meeting house, as it was originally, without a steeple, and before its last repair and enlargement, was put up as the result of the accident. This last frame when erected was left unfinished—a mere shell, like the old store house; for the congregation was too poor and feeble, either to finish or place pews in it. Then, as now, there were individuals, like Galileo, who cared for none of these things, and the shell remained in this condition for some years. In this crisis, a new plan was devised to seat it, which was, that every member of the congregation who chose to do it, might put up his own pew, and have choice of location, as a bonus for his action and good will in the matter. This was a direct appeal to pride, means and piety, and it would have been strange if it had not succeeded to some extent, even in so limited a congregation of people.— In an humble life, there are few spots where we can truly take pride in standing a moment to reflect, and this is one of them; for with feelings of grateful respect, mingled with devotion, we are advised to say, on the testimony of living witnesses, John McAuley was the first individual who built a regular pew in this barn of a church, and sat an example worthy of imitation. We are also justified in saying that this individual while he had the means, gave with a free heart and open hand, and neither begrudged nor doled out his church benefactions. May he receive his reward therefor in the world to which he has removed! The name of this man, and his services in this respect, enhanced in value ten fold by the times in which they were rendered, are now lost and forgotten by this new generation, beneath the rubbish of the old, and the richer adornment of the new building.— Mr. Hugh Walsh and Richard Wood quickly made locations and built their pews. Others at intervals did the same, and received deeds for the extent of their settlements. These pews were large, and made two slips in the present mode of seating. May we and all others the descendants of these fathers of the church, bless God for putting it into their hearts to build this temple and furnish it as a place of worship. This erection of seats went on for some time, till they were seen one, two, or three in a place, scattered around the building in the most ludicrous manner, when the congregation completed the work out of its own funds.