This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 Excerpt: ...year of exceptional financial depression. Two new Elders were ordained in 1838, Charles W. Dundas and Marcus Holmes. The letter in which Mr. Dundas accepted his election suggests the spirit which then animated the church. Addressing Mr. Edwards, he says: "Having, as I trust, prayerfully considered the election of ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 Excerpt: ...year of exceptional financial depression. Two new Elders were ordained in 1838, Charles W. Dundas and Marcus Holmes. The letter in which Mr. Dundas accepted his election suggests the spirit which then animated the church. Addressing Mr. Edwards, he says: "Having, as I trust, prayerfully considered the election of myself to an Eldership in the First Church, and in view of all the circumstances and relations existing in this Branch of Our Beloved Zion, I cannot permit myself to decline accepting, and taking upon me the solemn responsibility, which Our Brethren have laid upon me." Levi A. Ward, elected Superintendent of the Sunday School the year before, remained in that position for fifteen years. In 1838 the Anti-Slavery Society of Rochester, in which some leading members of the First Church--as Moses Chapin, David Scofield, S. D. Porter, etc.--were very prominent, were hosts for a State convention, and in that year Presbytery appointed a commission of four, of whom Tryon Edwards is first named, to organize the "Fifth Presbyterian Church in the city of Rochester." The church, subsequently called the "Fourth," lived only ten years. The event of 1839 was an unprecedented snowfall on January 26th-27th, which compelled the omission of the Sunday School on the 27th, and the cancellation of the afternoon service in all the churches. In 1840 a semi-centennial celebration of the settlement of Western New York was held, and Tryon Edwards was selected to make the prayer. In that year, too, a member of the church signed a confession, obviously written by the pastor, admitting imprudence in the "use of stimulating and exciting substances." The words " intoxicating drinks " were written first, and then, perhaps at the cul...
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