METHODISM 
 
 IN 
 
 POUGHKEEPSIE AND VICINITY. 
 
 FROM 1780 TO 1892, 
 
 WITH 
 
 SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS. 
 
 A BRIEF SUMMARY OF OTHER RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. L M. VINCENT. 
 
 POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 
 
 PRESS OF A. V. HAIGHT, 
 
 1 2 LIBERTY ST. 
 
 fiC
 
 Introduction. 
 
 THIS volume is largely devoted to the History of Meth- 
 odism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 The writer, now in the 64th year of his connection with 
 the Washington Street M. E. Church, has long felt that 
 some more permanent record than hitherto existed, should 
 be available to the Methodists of this city. 
 
 The book is not intended as a boast, is not prompted by 
 any spirit of rivalry, or egotism. 
 
 " Let him that glorieth glory in the Lord." 
 
 What Methodism is, is of God, and we only boast of 
 God's tender love and infinite mercy, in an instrumentality 
 that has gathered a vast number of harvest sheaves. 
 
 Without any reflection on past history or persons, it is 
 only truthful to say, that Methodism in its early beginning 
 in Poughkeepsie, was hardly a " welcome guest." 
 
 Its introduction and history confirm the fact. 
 
 It was only after a severe struggle of several years that 
 it found a lodgment 
 
 Its infancy was feeble, and its growth comparatively slow. 
 
 Its friends multiplied, and it came to stay. 
 
 In seventy years it has made a steady, and a sturdy 
 advance. It is quite equal in numbers to-day, to any Pro- 
 testant church in the city. 
 
 It has many years to grow before it reaches the age of 
 several of our sister churches 
 
 It is young, compared with our " Reformed Churches," 
 which have held occupancy here 170 years ; and our Epis- 
 copal brethren whose existence dates back 126 years. 
 
 No partiality can be justly alleged against the author 
 of this book in devoting so much space to the " Mother 
 Church of Episcopal Methodism " in Poughkeepsie, viz : 
 the Washington street Methodist Episcopal Church : The 
 writer knows "tliis" church, as he has never known any other. 
 With most of the recorded list of members, herein, he was 
 personally intimate. All have passed away but three.
 
 4 Methodism in Poughkcepsie. 
 
 Sixty-four years in any church makes a history. 
 
 Washington street M. E Church was the only Methodist 
 church in this city up to 1840 ; and the history of the 
 " Mother Church " in an important sense, is the history of 
 each and all 
 
 Thanks are hereby tendered to pastors of sister churches, 
 for facts in regard to their own church history, so readily 
 accorded.
 
 What is Methodism ? 
 
 This question will naturally be asked by many who 
 read this volume. 
 
 Methodism is a term usually applied to the system 
 of 'doctrines and general plans of economy held and 
 professed by the Wesleyan Methodists of England 
 and elsewhere notably by the Methodist Episcopal 
 Churches of the United States of America. 
 
 Many mistake the origin of Methodism and its 
 primitive character, by the name it now bears, and the 
 period when that name was given it. 
 
 It is the spirit of Methodism, its Divine qualities, 
 that marks its age ; qualities that link it with the 
 early Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul had it, 
 preached it, died in its faith. So other Apostles. In 
 the upheavals of society in the early church, the spirit 
 and power of Methodism became comparatively lost 
 as though it were buried forever. 
 
 But still it lived ; and though its channels were 
 hidden, yet there was an occasional " outburst " suf- 
 ficient to show that it was " Living Water " all 
 through the centuries, until that grand and wonderful 
 development in 1729 in Oxford, England, through 
 the instrumentality of the Wesleys and others, which 
 was attended with great power, so that surrounding 
 churches were shaken as though an earthquake 
 stirred them. 
 
 The effect still remains, and spiritual harvests are 
 still reaped, from the new life infused by the instru- 
 mentality of Methodism. 
 
 The term, Methodist, was originally a term of re- 
 proach, consequent upon a devout, exact, Methodical,
 
 6 Methodism in Poughkeepsie, 
 
 manner of living, and this term gradually diplaced the 
 temporary appellation of Bigot, Fanatic and Holy Club. 
 Methodism long years agone, has been known as 
 " Christianity in Earnest" not inappropriately re- 
 taining in this designation its primitive character. 
 
 Rightly understood, it is an embodiment of sound 
 Bible doctrine, of deep spirituality ; with as many 
 clear and happy conversions, sanctified lives, and tri- 
 umphant deaths as any church extant, in proportion to 
 numbers. 
 
 A child of Providence ; God begotten, God cared 
 for, God preserved ; her doctrines are purely Biblical, 
 to wit : The doctrine that Christ made an atonement 
 for sin and salvation possible to all sinners ; that God 
 pardons the guilty on true repentance toward God, and 
 faith on our Lord Jesus Christ. That it is the office 
 and work of the Holy Spirit to testify to, and witness 
 with our spirit, that we are the children of God by 
 adoption and regeneration ; that the consummation of 
 a true Christian life is the sanctification of the be- 
 liever, and an abundant entrance into Heaven. 
 
 That the condition of our justification and pardon, 
 involves faith " in " Christ, and faith " on " Christ. 
 
 The first is a " fact, " by which we apprehend the 
 atonement, the grand scheme of redemption. 
 
 The second, is our acceptance of the fact, and our 
 absolute dependance on Christ ; the indispensable con- 
 dition of our justification. Acts, 16:31. 
 
 We may believe "in Christ," that He is the Saviour 
 and bids us come to Him, that we might have life ; 
 but we "may not come." 
 
 We may have knowledge of a possible and condi- 
 tional redemption by Christ, and not accept it. 
 
 We must go farther than this to effect our personal 
 
 salvation, we must believe " on " Christ. I believe 
 
 in " a boat, as a means of crossing a river in safety ;
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 7 
 
 and yet fears may arise, and I decline to enter it. I 
 believe " on " a boat, when I venture in it, and 
 stake my life upon it ; lost or saved, I venture. So 
 we believe " on " Christ, when we surrender all to 
 Him, and stake our souls' eternal salvation "<0# 
 Hint and Him alone ; accepting Him because of his 
 infinite merit, immutable promises and shed blood." 
 Just here, the utterance of the heart and lips is on this 
 wise : 
 
 " Just as I am without one plea, 
 But that Thy blood was shed for me. 
 And that thoubids't me come to Thee, 
 O Lamb of God, I come ! I come !"
 
 The Success of Methodism. 
 
 It is no vain boast to say that for the hundred years 
 just past, the success of Methodism is marvelous. 
 
 In numbers, in intelligence and piety, in wealth and 
 influence, in all that makes a church good ami useful, 
 Methodism will compare favorably with any Protest- 
 ant denomination. 
 
 In all her existence, her mission has been largely to 
 the "poor," and her success here has been one of the 
 grandest features of her conquest. 
 
 It was one of the grand wonders of Messiah's day. 
 " The poor have the gospel preached to them." Matt. 
 1 1 15. Worthy to be catalogued in the list of Mes- 
 siah's triumphs.; "with sight to the blind, the lame 
 healed, lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised, 
 the 'poor' have the gospel preached to them." 
 
 Wondrous record ! and think you what a " resur- 
 rection power " this truth has been to unnumbered 
 millions of poverty, and adversity. The Saviour send- 
 ing to the poorest of the poor, the greatest gift, next 
 to Himself, the world ever knew, " The Blessed Gos- 
 pel." 
 
 Methodism shall never blush that her mission was 
 to the "poor" as well as the "rich" and in the salva- 
 rion of the poor, her trophies have never been ex- 
 celled in the world's history. May we inquire, why 
 this triumph ? First of all, "it is God's work." But 
 then, God works by means, by instrumentalities ! 
 
 Has not God designed " Methodism," one of the 
 successful agents in the salvation of the world ? and if 
 God appointed, God knows full well, the adaptation 
 of the means to the end.
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 9 
 
 We have before hinted at the " Spirituality of 
 Methodism'' 
 
 Is not this the " lever " that has shifted so many 
 from the domain of spiritual poverty to affluence ; 
 that has lifted up vast multitudes out of the very 
 dregs of humanity, and made them kings and priests 
 unto God ? 
 
 Methodism has a vital power in her " Emotional 
 Christianity." Here is an element that sways human 
 hearts, binds communities and churches, where there is 
 little affinity of wealth and learning. 
 
 The sentiment here expressed has provoked nomi- 
 nal Christianity to scoff, and often to declare, as a 
 "wild enthusiasm," the Divine inspiration of an 
 "emotional Christianity." 
 
 Reason only, it is alleged, can sway sceptre here. 
 
 But a Christianity that lies only in the realm of rea- 
 son, (and this is no plea for ignorance,) that does not 
 get into the heart, and set it throbbing with Divine 
 impulses, such a Christianity is only a " galvanized 
 corpse." Let me not be misunderstood .here, for I 
 have no sympathy with a wild fanaticism in the church 
 or world. 
 
 It is no wild enthusiasm, this sense of the love of 
 God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost 
 given unto us ; of a power Divine, that transforms 
 from sin to holiness, melts hard hearts, turns hatred to 
 love, grief to joy, sighing and sadness to "joy un- 
 speakable and full of glory." We plead, for an " emo- 
 tional Christianity," a Divine influence in the word, 
 that thrills human hearts, a Divine comforter, in the 
 indwelling Holy Ghost, a Divine consolation in com- 
 munion with God in prayer, hearts all aglow, when 
 tears are shed, praise is uttered, shouts are sometimes 
 heard and the indication of pentecost apparent, so that 
 even in modern times, when and where God pours out
 
 io Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 His spirit, an astonished people ask as in olden time, 
 "What meaneth this ? " 
 
 David meant all this and even more, when he said, 
 Psl. 35:9, "My soul shall rejoice, it shall rejoice in 
 His salvation." 
 
 And Paul ; when he said, " The God of hope fill 
 you with all joy and peace in believing." 
 
 And Peter; when he said, " Believing, ye rejoice 
 with joy unspeakable and full of glory." 
 
 The outcome of all this is, ordinarily, the " Cer- 
 tainty of our spiritual condition." A true state of 
 grace, an "engrafting into Christ the true vine." 
 " Born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorrupti- 
 ble," " heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ." 
 
 Here are elements of testimony, that can only be 
 ignored by a rejection of Christianity entire. If Mr. 
 Wesley ever doubted this, it was before his heart was 
 "strangely warmed," under the preaching of a devout 
 Moravian. 
 
 That " strange warmth " was the effusion of the Holy 
 Spirit, "wherein God witnessed with His spirit that 
 He was a' child of God," and he believed it ; preached 
 it ; died under its influence, exclaiming, " the best of 
 all is, God is with us ! " 
 
 For further reference on this point, I refer the 
 reader to Isaiah, 12 1-2; ist John, 3:14; Romans, 
 8:15-
 
 Attachment to One's Church. 
 
 This problem is not difficult to solve, especially 
 when our attachments are widened, deepened, strength- 
 ened by a life-long consecration and service. 
 
 Here perchance we recognize the place of our spir- 
 itual birth, and it may be that here we have spent 
 long years of earnest work in the communion and fel- 
 lowship of the saints. 
 
 Families have dwelt here in sweet fellowship ; here 
 sainted ones we loved so much matured for heaven ; 
 multitudes rejoiced with hearts all aglow, with the bap- 
 tism of fire. 
 
 In the church's true history, there is a bond of at- 
 tachment hard to sever ; and it is meet that the gen- 
 eration of Methodists following in succession should 
 be made familiar with the steps trodden by a parent- 
 age safely housed, their toils, sacrifices, triumphs. The 
 cost of Methodism should never be forgotten so long 
 as our church endures ; the cost of Methodism to its 
 pioneers, in this city or elsewhere : Those who have 
 gone before us and left us an example that we might 
 tread in their steps. 
 
 Before proceeding directly to our church history, I 
 desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to the research 
 and labors of Doct. Wm. H. Ferris, now deceased. 
 I was not aware of any publication by Doct. Ferris, or 
 any other, until I had made a careful research of our 
 church history, from r78o to 1830. The result of this 
 research was so near akin to the facts published by 
 Doct. Ferris, that I at once decided to avail myself of 
 his printed sheet as to some facts recorded in this
 
 12 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 volume. All honor to Doct. Ferris for his tribute to 
 early Methodism. 
 
 As early as 1 788-89, Methodist societies were or- 
 ganized in Rhinebeck and other adjacent places. 
 
 Rev. Freeborn Garrettson must have passed Pough- 
 keepsie frequently in his evangelistic labors. 
 
 The first church edifice erected in Poughkeepsie was 
 the Reformed Dutch, located on the north side of 
 Main east of the Poughkeepsie Hotel, now the Nel- 
 son House Annex. 
 
 Tradition intimates that a small church was first 
 erected on the south side of Main street, corner of 
 Market street, and was subsequently removed to the 
 north side of the street. The writer well remembers 
 when there was a break into the old grave yard, corner 
 of Main and Market streets, for the removal of the 
 dead. The excitement for and against was quite equal 
 to the political squabbles of the present day, but the 
 dead were removed nevertheless. 
 
 Dutchess circuit, the beginning of Methodism in 
 this section, first appears in the minutes of the New 
 York Conference in 1 788. The circuit extended from 
 Albany on the north to Connecticut and Massachu- 
 setts on the east, the Highlands on the south. There 
 were two preachers on this circuit, Cornelius Cook 
 and Andrew Harpending. Cook died the next year, 
 and Harpending was expelled the year following. In 
 1789 Samuel O. Talbot and Benjamin Abbott were 
 the circuit preachers. The membership of the entire 
 circuit at this date was 203. It is supposed that Tal- 
 bot preached the first Methodist sermon on New Eng- 
 land soil. It was in the barroom of a tavern in Salis- 
 bury, Connecticut, some six months before Jesse Lee 
 entered New England. 
 
 Benjamin Abbott, the associate of Talbot, was a 
 son of thunder, with little culture or refinement, but
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 1 3 
 
 great goodness and power. After a holy and useful 
 life he died in 1 796. 
 
 In 1790 Peter Moriarty and Menzinas Raynorwere 
 the spiritual shepherds, and the membership of the 
 circuit had increased to 410. Hallock followed, in 
 1791. Moriarty, a faithful and useful man, was found 
 several years later, lifeless, in his bed at Hillsdale. 
 
 Thomas Everard, Zebulon Zanky, Samuel Fowler, 
 Robert McCoy, Jacob Rickhow, and David Brown 
 followed as preachers on the circuit. They were 
 aided by the indefatigable " Garrettson," as Presiding 
 Elder. 
 
 In 1795 Peter Moriarty returned to Dutchess 
 circuit, and remained two years, with David Brown, 
 and Samuel Fowler as colleagues. 
 
 It was not until "1796," that the voice of a 
 Methodist preacher was heard in Poughkeepsie. 
 During that year Freeborn Garrettson preached one 
 sermon in the Reformed church ; then standing on 
 the North side of Main Street. 
 
 Four years after Wm. Thacher came to this city, 
 then having a population of four thousand, and 
 preached in the court house. He had good and 
 respectful audiences. After some half dozen sermons, 
 without gathering any fruits, this field was again 
 abandoned. While preaching here, Thacher was the 
 guest of Thomas Haywood living one-third mile south 
 of the city. Here he became acquainted with Col. 
 W. Pearce from Pawling, this county, who was 
 attending court. Pearce was a thoughtless, worldly 
 man. At family prayer, led by Thacher, he was 
 awakened, and invited the minister to come to 
 Pawling, and preach. Thacher went and introduced 
 Methodism there. His failure in Poughkeepsie 
 opened an effectual door 20 miles away. 
 
 "In the morning sow thy seed, in the evening with-
 
 14 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 hold not thy hand, for thou knowest not which shall 
 prosper." 
 
 In 1800 or 1 80 1 Bishop Asbury visited Pough- 
 keepsie, and said of it, " This is no place for Metho- 
 dism." He was a great evangelist, but no prophet. 
 
 At this period, we find the following names in the 
 list of circuit preachers : Philip Wager, Joseph 
 Mitchell, Jacob Rickhow, Billy Hibbard, Joseph Tot- 
 ten, Roger Searle. In 1800 Wm. Thacher and Peter 
 Jacques were pastors. The territory of Dutchess 
 Circuit had been divided, and its dimensions were 
 nearly confined to Dutchess county. The Member- 
 ship was 321. 
 
 In 1801 David Brown, Wm. Thacher, and Lorenzo 
 Dow were on the circuit. But yet, no germ of 
 Methodism appeared in this city. 
 
 In 1802 Sylvester Foster and Billy Hibbard 
 manned the circuit. Hibbard died in 1844, after a 
 useful life. As the veil of immortality was lifted he 
 said, " My soul is as calm as a summer evening." 
 
 The Rev. F. Garrettson, P. E., made another fruit- 
 less effort to plant the tree of Methodism here. There 
 was, however, at this time one member, John Giles. 
 He had been a member of the society in Ireland, and 
 was at this time connected with a class on the oppo- 
 site side of the river. 
 
 The third effort of Mr. Garrettson to introduce 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie was made in 1803 or 
 1804, fifteen years after Methodism had been intro- 
 duced into the county. Garrettson preached here in 
 a private house, and the first evening formed a class 
 of Chas. H. Duncomb, Polly Duncomb and John 
 Giles. The service was held in the house of Mr. Dun- 
 comb at 334 Main street, and it was here the first 
 class was formed by Garrettson. The second day after, 
 Peter Ladue and wife joined the class, making five
 
 Methodism in PougJikcepsie. 1 5 
 
 persons in all. The room occupied by Garrettson as 
 the preaching place was the "garret," an outside flight 
 of steps ascending to it. 
 
 In 1803 Jas. Colman and Hibbard were the circuit 
 preachers. Colman died in 1842. Hibbard continued 
 in 1804, aided by Datus Ensign. Under the preach- 
 ing of the former in the upper room, the class was in- 
 creased to eight persons, among those added were Mr. 
 Hay wood and wife. In 1805, Frances Ward and 
 Robt. Dillon were the spiritual guides. Thacher was 
 the presiding elder. There were 496 members on the 
 entire circuit. 
 
 Tradition says that the first Methodist prayer meet- 
 ing ever held in Poughkeepsie was at the house of John 
 Low, on the recent site of the' Cannon street church. 
 
 In subsequent years, ministers who visited this city, 
 would sometimes gain access to the court house and 
 preach there. 
 
 In 1805 the* First Methodist Episcopal Church was 
 erected. 
 
 It is related that Brother Duncomb, whose garret 
 had become too small, growing anxious for the future 
 prosperity of the church, and desirous to have a better 
 place of worship, fell asleep and dreamed. In his vision 
 on his bed a man stood before him, whose name 
 was Levi McKeen. This gentleman was at that time 
 a man of considerable means and prominent as a busi- 
 ness man of this city. Duncomb dreamed that he 
 asked of him and obtained a gift of a lot for the erec- 
 tion of a Methodist Episcopal Church. The dreamer 
 awoke, told his dream to McKeen, who freely gave 
 the lot on Jefferson street, 50 feet front, for the pur- 
 pose desired. 
 
 McKeen was at one time a Methodist local preacher, 
 but at this time was a member of the Society of 
 Friends He died in 1852 at Fishkill-on-the-Hudson.
 
 1 6 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 On this lot a church building was erected 30 feet 
 long and 40 fe,et wide, so built that its dimensions 
 might be easily increased. This, however, was never 
 done. This building was plastered and sealed below 
 the galleries, but the upper part remained unfinished 
 until 1814. 
 
 In 1806, Dutchess circuit (still including Pough- 
 keepsie), was manned by D. Ostrander, F. Ward and 
 R. Dillon. After these came Vredenburgh, Swazey, 
 Moriarty, Planey, Cook, and Smith Arnold. 
 
 In 1810 E. Woolsey, Z. Lyon and Smith Arnold 
 were on the circuit, and reported a membership of 
 955, the territory being reduced. These were followed 
 in 1811 by Elijah Woolsey and Peter Bussing; 
 and in 1812, by W. Anson, W. Swazey and Marvin 
 Richardson, and these by Coles Carpenter and Samuel 
 Luckey. 
 
 In 1814 J. M. Smith, P. Cook and Coles Carpenter 
 were the appointees. During this year, 'there came a 
 gracious revival. Smith was a man of great spiritual 
 power, and about 200 were converted. Great was 
 the joy of the little band, that had been waiting, 
 praying, believing, for such a result. 
 
 It was at this time the church on Jefferson Street, 
 was being completed. For a time, the society had 
 worshipped in the court house, where the Word 
 preached was attended with power. 
 
 Poughkeepsie formed a part of the Dutchess circuit, 
 until August, 1814. It was then made a station 
 under the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Smith. At this 
 time the flock had grown from 5 to 143. Rev. Win. 
 Jewett succeeded in 1816. 
 
 In 1817 W. Thacher was appointed to the charge, 
 but on account of ill health failed to reach it, and 
 Poughkeepsie was again thrown back into the circuit.
 
 Methodism in Poitglikccpsic. 17 
 
 Then followed Samuel Cochran, J. B. Matthias, A. 
 Pierce, L. Andrus, S. Arnold, J. Hunt, J. M. Smith, 
 O. Sykes, J. Reynolds, and A. Scofield. 
 
 In 1823, Poughkeepsie again became and has since 
 remained a station, Robert Seney was appointed 
 pastor. The membership at that time was 157 
 whites, 10 colored, a total of 167. 
 
 James Young was the preacher in 1824, and A. 
 Pearce in 1825. 
 
 In 1826 the old church in Jefferson Street, was 
 torn down. It had stood about twenty years, and had 
 been honored with the conversion of a multitude of 
 souls, one of the last ministers that graced its pulpit 
 for a Sabbath, was the sainted John Summerneld. 
 When the old church was demolished, there were 
 182 members. The total cost of this church up to 
 1818, was $2,773.43, on which was paid $1,783.23, 
 leaving a balance of $990. 20. This debt was carried 
 for seven years, until the erection of the new church 
 on Washington Street. The report from 1805, con- 
 tinuous to 1818, is signed Moses Armstrong and S. 
 H. Weed, committee, and declared correct. The 
 only question at issue in all this period, was a matter 
 of " interest," amounting to $20.09, an d on this the 
 committee were divided. At the time of the erection 
 of the new church, the debt on the old was report- 
 ed at $900. 
 
 The time had come for the erection of a new 
 church. It was a great event in the history of the 
 society, the more so, as it was determined to build in 
 the "centre" of the town. The Methodist Church 
 had never had a fair show in Poughkeepsie, owing to 
 its location. A " by street," and sparse population 
 surrounding it. 
 
 About this time there came a gentleman from 
 Virginia, seeking a residence in Poughkeepsie.
 
 1 8 Methodism in Poughkcepsie. 
 
 His preferences for Methodism were very posi- 
 tive and decided, and all efforts to prevent his 
 union with the Methodist Church were unavailing. 
 He had intimated very decidedly that something must 
 be done to secure for a Methodist Church, a more 
 eligible site, and better edifice. While this gentle- 
 man was passing through Washington Street one 
 morning, he saw a group of men, to whom the sheriff 
 of the county was about to sell the ground on which 
 the Washington Street Church was afterward built. 
 He stopped, balanced the thing in his mind, and his 
 favorite project of a Methodist Church in the midst 
 of the people flashed upon him. No time was to be 
 lost. He offered $500. Other bids were made. He 
 finally offered $650 and then walked slowly away. 
 The sharp rap of the auctioneer, however, called him 
 back, to learn that the property was his. A Friend 
 proposed to buy it of the purchaser, and inquired, 
 " How much wilt thou take for thy bargain ? " When 
 informed that it was not for sale, and that a Metho- 
 dist Church was to be erected there, he and the 
 people were surprised and startled, and the Quaker 
 responded, " Why ! the Methodists have no money 
 to build with ? " He was assured the money would 
 be forthcoming. And it was. It was true, the 
 society had no funds, and worse still, they were $900 
 in debt on their old church. Of this amount $400 
 was due to John Giles, which he forgave. Honor to 
 John Giles. Honor, and gratitude to " Josiah 
 Williams" who purchased the lots, and loaned the 
 society the money for the new church. He became 
 an honored member of the church, and so remained 
 until called to his reward. 
 
 The new church was erected, and was the same di- 
 mensions of the old one. Forty by fifty feet, with base- 
 ment and galleries. Its seating capacity was about
 
 Methodism in Ponghkeepsie. 19 
 
 500. It was dedicated December 7th, 1826. Nathan 
 Bangs, D.D., preaching morning and evening, and S. 
 Luckey, in the afternoon. Great was the joy of the 
 people in their new sanctuary. 
 
 In 1827 and 1828 Marvin Richardson was the 
 stationed minister. William Jewett succeeded, the 
 two following .years, and reduced the debt of the 
 church from $i,8ooto $1,200 by subscription. The 
 writer was received into the church by him, and the 
 minister little dreamed, when he laid his hands upon 
 the head of the boy in baptism, that this boy would 
 live to preach his funeral sermon, and bury him, which 
 was the fact. 
 
 W. Thacher was the pastor in 1831 and 1832. He 
 said of the church, "The Methodists of Poughkeep- 
 sie are remarkable for their peace and brotherly love." 
 He built a new parsonage in the place of the old one 
 at a cost of $1,800, $1,200 of which was raised on 
 subscription. During his administration there was a 
 gracious revival, aided by Rev. John Newland Maffitt. 
 The church was also enlarged by adding fourteen feet 
 to the length, at a cost of $700. 
 
 The New York Annual Conference held its session 
 here in the spring of 1833, then consisting of 158 
 preachers. 
 
 Such had been the growth of the society in its new 
 home that it now had 402 white and 47 colored mem- 
 bers. Since then the African M. E. Z. Church has 
 been organized, and most of our colored friends at- 
 tend it. 
 
 In 1833-34, George Coles was the preacher, and the 
 next year J. Z. Nichols. 
 
 S. L. Stillman was pastor in 1836-37. During his 
 stay there was a gracious revival and the membership 
 increased to 6 1 6. The church became too small, or 
 rather the congregation outgrew the church, and the
 
 2O Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 Quarterly Conference appointed a committee to select 
 a site for a second church. The great revulsion in 
 business which followed, discouraged the effort and 
 the committee were discharged. 
 
 Charles W. Carpenter was the pastor in 1838-39. 
 During his administration the second or Cannon street 
 Church was organized. 
 
 The succeeding list of pastors of Washington street 
 Church to the present time, 1892,15 as follows: P. 
 P. Sanford, Robert Seeney, J. Lindsey, B. Griffen, 
 M. L. Scudder, (during his term the church was re- 
 modeled and greatly improved), L. M. Vincent, W. 
 H. Ferris, L. H. King, Z. N. Lewis, M. D'C. Craw- 
 ford, G. S. Hare, S. D. Brown, J. L. G. McKown, 
 DeLoss Lull, J. E. Cookman, W. G. W. Lewis, Q. J. 
 Collins, William Lloyd, J. P. McClelland, c7 R. 
 North, G. S. Hare ( 2 d term), F. L. Wilson, W. H. 
 Hatfield, C. H. Snedecor. 
 
 Present trustees of Washington street M. E. Church, 
 1892 : W. T. Reynolds, C. L. Dates, J. F. Marble, 
 J. H. Hickok, Julius Jillson, Geo. E. Cramer, 
 Mitchell Downing, Henry Tittamer, J. J. Palmer. 
 
 During the pastorate of G. S Hare, the present 
 church edifice was erected. It was dedicated during 
 the pastorate of S. D. Brown. The cost of the site 
 was $6,500. The entire cost of ground, edifice and 
 furniture, $29,400.03. The corner stone was laid by 
 G. S. Hare. Dr. Stockton, of Philadelphia, preached 
 in the old church in the afternoon. The church was 
 dedicated Sept. 7th, 1859. Dr. J. McClintock 
 preached in the morning from 2 Cor., 10:3-5, and dedi- 
 cated the church. Dr. Hare preached in the evening. 
 
 During the pastorate of Rev. G. Hare in 1858 and 
 1859, and John E. Cookman in 1865 and 1866, there 
 were powerful revivals of religion. Among the con- 
 verts of the latter, was the now sainted L. O. Winslow.
 
 Cannon Street M. E. Church. 
 
 The origin of the Cannon Street Church was on 
 this wise : In the year 1839, tne Baptists having 
 built a new church in La Fayette Place, vacated their 
 old edifice on Mill Street, where the new Baptist 
 Church now stands. This was thought a providential 
 opening. C. W. Carpenter, the pastor, called a 
 church meeting in the basement of the Washington 
 Street Church, to consider the propriety of a second 
 church organization. After due consideration, a 
 majority sanctioned the enterprise. The trustees of 
 Washington Street Church were instructed to hire the 
 old Baptist Church. They did so ; and in April, 
 1840, Brother Carpenter organized the second M. E. 
 Church in Poughkeepsie. Soon after, Thomas M. 
 Brewer, Thomas Simpson, William Wall Reynolds, 
 Edmund B. Bailey, Henry Wray, David Norris, and 
 Egbert B. Killey, were elected trustees, and assumed 
 the financial responsibilities of the new enterprise. 
 At the time of this organization, or at the next report 
 of members, there were 318 members in the old 
 church, and 156 in the new. Total 474. 
 
 In 1842 the Baptists sold their church in Mill 
 Street to the Universalists, and on the ist of Novem- 
 ber of that year the new society vacated, and for a 
 while held their services in the Village Hall. Soon, 
 however, they gained possession of the court house, 
 and continued to worship there until the present 
 Cannon Street Church was completed. In 1843 the 
 new society purchased the property on Union Street, 
 fronting Market Square, for the site of a new church. 
 This was subsequently exchanged for lots in Cannon
 
 22 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 Street. Nathaniel Hill, Egbert B. Killey, and Robert 
 Brower were appointed a building committee. The 
 corner stone was laid by Bishop Janes, May 26th, 
 1845. The total cost of the ground and edifice was 
 $8,650. It was dedicated on Christmas day, Dec. 
 25th, 1845. The dedicatory prayer was offered by 
 Bishop Hedding. Joseph Cross preached in the 
 morning, and D. W. Clark, since pastor of the church, 
 and Bishop, in the evening. 
 
 Fitch Reed was the first pastor, in 1840-41. Since 
 then there have been the following overseers of the 
 flock : Hart F. Pease, J. B. Merwin, who was in 
 poor health and assisted by B. M. Genung. Then 
 followed S. Van Deusen, G. F. Kettell, D. W. Clark, 
 R. A. Chalker, J. W. Beach, L. W. Peck, G. F. 
 Kettell, and W. J. Foss (he preached one Sabbath 
 and went to heaven), G. W. Lord, L. P., supplied 
 the pulpit that year. Then came A. D. Vail, A. M. 
 Hough, A. McLean, L. G. Romaine, E. R. Keyes, 
 E. L. Prentice, M. S. Terry, P. R. Hawxhurst, W. 
 H. Ferris, Winslow W. Seaver, C. W. Millard, E. 
 S. Osbpn, J. Ackerman, G. H. Gregory, assisted by 
 G. W. Knapp, up to 1892.
 
 Trinity M. E. Church. 
 
 In the progress of 1891-92 the society of Cannon 
 Street Church, with commendable zeal and great 
 liberality, resolved on a new church enterprise. Lots 
 were secured on Montgomery Street, adjacent to the 
 Old Ladies' Home, a fine church edifice was erected, 
 and was dedicated by Bishop Andrews, in May, 1892. 
 The cost of the property was $58,000. This noble 
 work has been largely accomplished by the inde- 
 fatigable labors of Rev. G. H Gregory, D.D., and his 
 assistant, Rev. Robert Knapp. 
 
 The society of the Cannon Street Church reports, 
 in 1892, a membership of 483. One Sunday-school, 
 34 officers and teachers, 240 scholars. 
 
 The trustees, in 1892, are J. P. H. Tallman, W. 
 Farrington, H. D. Hufcut, J. Lyke, W. C. Dobbs, 
 J. W. Barrett, J. J. Bahret and Dr. J. S. Wilson. 
 
 In the winter of 1853, the overcrowded condition 
 of the mother church in Washington street gave 
 strong intimations that the time to colonize had again 
 come. Many families had made application for seats 
 and could not be accommodated. Then there was a 
 rapidly increasing population in the western part of 
 the town, with no Protestant, English speaking 
 church. After due consideration, a meeting was called 
 in the Lecture Room of the Washington street Church, 
 March 2ist, 1853. The matter was fully discussed, 
 and it was decided with great unanimity, that such an 
 enterprise was demanded, and a committee was ap- 
 pointed to secure lots. Lots were purchased of Capt. 
 A. Underwood, and in June following, the third 
 church edifice was begun, in South Clover street,
 
 24 Methodism in Ponghkeepsic. 
 
 where the Hedding Church now stands. John Long- 
 field and Seneca Hallovvay were the builders. A col- 
 ony of about 70 from Washington street united ia the 
 enterprise, most of them residents in the western part 
 of the city. 
 
 Thus it will be seen that each of the branch 
 churches is from the parent vine, and was planted by 
 the consent and advice of our godly mother. There 
 was no violent rending asunder. The offshoots were 
 goodly daughters, going out with the blessings of a 
 mother to establish households of their own, and rear 
 children for God. At the May Conference of 1853, 
 a pastor was appointed. There was no parsonage, fur- 
 niture, church, congregation, or Sunday school. All 
 there was of it was a $5 bill toward a new church. 
 The German M. E. Church in Bridge street was 
 rented. A Sunday school was organized May 22d, 
 and the church the 3oth of the same month. Soon 
 the little church was crowded, and as the weather grew 
 warmer, the open windows let in, not only the fresh 
 air, but the sound of the worshippers below, our 
 German brethren, and there was a strange mingling 
 of kindred spirits, but discordant sounds. During the 
 summer a Sunday afternoon service was held in North 
 Clover street, under the trees. Here nearly a thous- 
 and people listened 'to the gospel. 
 
 Dec. 3ist, 1853, the first religious service was held 
 in the Lecture Room of the Hedding Church. It 
 was a watch meeting, several were converted. The 
 corner stone had been laid late in July, Phineas Rice, 
 presiding elder, officiating, aided by L B. Wakeley, 
 W. W. Jewettand L. H. King. April 5th, following, 
 the church was dedicated, Bishop Janes, officiating. 
 He preached in the morning, H. Mattison, D. D., in 
 the afternoon, and R. S. Foster, D. D., in the even- 
 ing.
 
 Methodism in Pong It keep sic. 25 
 
 The cost of church'and grounds was about $13,000. 
 The pastor was superintendent of the Sunday school 
 and acting building committee, and financial agent. 
 
 There was a great revival in the winter of '54 and 
 '55. The membership increased to 290 and the Sun- 
 day school to 425. The following is the list of pas- 
 tors : W. H. Ferris, S. Fitch, W. C. Smith, J. B. 
 Wakeley, L. H. King, B. M. Adams, D. Buck, W. C. 
 Smith, G. H. Gregory, A. L. Culver, W. H. Evans, 
 Edmund Lewis, F. Hamlin, R. H. Travis, D. H. Han- 
 naburgh, Andrew Schriver, Fields Hermance. At 
 the time of dedication the Official Board consisted of 
 Longfield, Cramer, Brooks, Halloway, Secor, Frost, 
 Clark, Sutton, Cookingham, Lee and Cornell. The 
 pastor was superintendent of the Sunday school. 
 
 Hedding Church in 1892, reports a membership of 
 481. One Sunday school, 40 officers and teachers, 
 300 scholars, all is bright and promising before them 
 under the pastorate of Rev. Hermance. 
 
 The trustees in 1892 are : Solomon B. Wheeler, 
 Eli Sutcliffe, John Schickle, Joseph Gillen, Wm. H. 
 Weddle, Wm. Halpin, James Harris, George 1. 
 Smith, Charles W. Baird. 
 
 The colored M. E. Zion Church was organized in 
 1837. The first church edifice in Catharine Street 
 was built about 1843, and the present one in 1860. 
 Present membership 60. Prior to their becoming a 
 separate body, they worshipped with their white 
 brethren. At one time, nearly 50 years ago, there 
 were 58 colored members of Washington Street 
 Church. 
 
 The German M. E. Church in Bridge Street was 
 built in 1850. July iith, 1847, the first sermon in 
 German preached by J. Sauter, presiding elder, in 
 Jay Street, in the house of Jacob Bahret. Durstein 
 preached his first sermon in the house of Harry Kid-
 
 26 Methodism in Ponghkeepsie. 
 
 ney, Jefferson Street, to 15 persons. April 7th, 1850. 
 the first service was held in the basement of the new 
 church in Bridge Street. On Sept. 22d, 1850, the 
 church was dedicated by C. Lyon, presiding elder. 
 The Sunday-school was organized corner Church and 
 Jefferson Streets, in November, 1847. There were 
 15 scholars. S. Halloway was superintendent ; A. P. 
 Lent, assistant ; Thomas M. Brewer, secretary, 
 and Sylvia Kidney, teacher. John Flad, the pastor. 
 The society was first organized by C. Lyon, in the 
 Washington Street Church. D. Durstein was the 
 missionary, aided by a German member of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, Jacob Bahret. The little band wor- 
 shiped at Durstein's house, corner Church and Jeffer- 
 son Streets, until November, 1849, an< ^ later, while 
 their church building was going up, in the school 
 house in Church Street. Their growth was rapid. 
 Their first report in 1851 shows a membership of 51. 
 There was then no other German church in Pough- 
 keepsie, now there are three, and a Jewish synagogue, 
 mostly German. The emigration to the west, and 
 the tendency of their people to the English churches, 
 has thinned their ranks. Present membership 82. 
 Present trustees of the German M. E. Church, in 
 1892, are Berthold Seeholzer, Ferdinand Ebling, 
 Wm. Koch, Wm. Scheu, Chris Sorg, Chas. Triller 
 and Louis Degenhart. 
 
 Poughkeepsie has been successively included in the 
 New York, Rhinebeck, Ashgrove, Rhinebeck, New 
 Haven and Rhinebeck districts. In 1835 it gave 
 name to the district in which it is included and has so 
 continued. 
 
 The succession of presiding elders, beginning with 
 1 788, is given below : F. Garrettson, George Roberts, 
 F. Garrettson, Sylvester Hutchinson, F. Garrettson, 
 W. Thacher, Peter Moriarty, A. Hunt, Peter Moriar-
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 27 
 
 ty, Elijah Woolsey, Nathan Bangs, Ebenezer Wash- 
 burn, Samuel Merwin, Samuel Luckey, D. Ostrander, 
 P. P. Sanford, P. Rice, M. Richardson, P. P. San- 
 ford, N. White, W. Jewett, M. Richardson, P. Rice, 
 S. Martindale, L. M. Vincent, A. C. Foss, J. B. 
 Wakeley, A. M. Osbon, M. D'C. Crawford, W. Goss, 
 De Loss Lull, A. K. Sanford, A. H. Ferguson, Geo. 
 S. Hare, R. H. Travis, to 1892. 
 
 It would be an interesting, and a painfully pleasant 
 task, to record the names of all the sacramental host 
 that have finished their course. Ministers, laymen, 
 holy men and holy women, who have toiled with us, 
 and gone from us. To record their deeds, their 
 virtues, and their holy triumphs. But they are too 
 many. Are not their names in the book of life ? 
 Are they not in the Father's house of many mansions ? 
 Noble, pure men and women they were, born at our 
 altars. They used their armor well and kept it bright. 
 They are victors now. They wear crowns gemmed 
 with jewels. O ! what a throng ! There they are ! 
 They live for they have never ceased to live. We 
 remember them, their looks, their words, their works, 
 their songs, their prayers, their sermons, their last 
 battle with death, their complete triumph. They 
 whispered victory from pale lips. It beamed from 
 their countenances ; they waved it back with hands 
 chilled in,the waters of Jordan. They have reached 
 HOME. There the glory fades not, and temple wor- 
 ship never ends. Some have just gone. Their light 
 yet lingers. Their footsteps are visible on the sands 
 where they entered the river. We have not forgotten 
 them. Their names, their memories, are fragrant. 
 They have not forgotten us. We go to meet them. 
 They wait our coming. It is not far. Twill not be 
 long. Side by side, we have kneeled at the same 
 church altar. Side by side, within the veil, we shall
 
 28 Methodism in Poughkecpsic. 
 
 worship forever. How many are there ? More than 
 are here. No temple of God in this city could hold 
 them. A cloud of witnesses. From the rude garret 
 in Main Street ; from the little chapel in Jefferson 
 Street ; from the old edifice in Washington Street ; 
 from court house and church of modern structure, 
 they have gone up washed in the blood of the Lamb, 
 to the city where night never comes. They are ours 
 still. We are theirs ; golden links bind us together. 
 
 " One family we dwell in Him, one church above, beneath, 
 Though now divided by the stream the narrow stream of death, 
 One army of the living God, at his command we bow, 
 Part of his host have crossed the flood, and part are crossing now ; 
 E'en now, by faith we join our hands with those that went before, 
 And greet the blood besprinkled bands on the eternal shore." 
 
 Gently we tread on holy ground, and select a few 
 names from among many that are worthy of record : 
 Charles H. Duncomb, at whose house the first class 
 was formed and whose garret was the chapel, was the 
 first class leader and architect of the Jefferson Street 
 Church. He died August 24th, 1812, aged 41. His 
 wife Polly, the second one of the little band of five, 
 died the same year, two months before her husband. 
 An infant 'daughter sleeps beside them in the old 
 church yard in Jefferson Street. 
 
 Thomas Hay wood and Joanna his wife, sleep in 
 the same spot. He departed this life 1818, and she 
 1839 aged 91. On their tombstones is written, 
 " Blessed are the dead," &c. 
 
 Close by these graves are those of Elijah Morgan, 
 Sr., and wife Lavina. The former died 1815, aged 
 63, and the latter 1838, aged 86. Now removed to 
 cemetery. 
 
 Here among the tombs are found the familiar 
 names, so associated with our early history, of Arm- 
 strong, Stanton, Weddell, Reynolds. 
 
 Among the names held sacred by the church,
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 29 
 
 among the ministry, we recall those of Hedding, 
 whose last public prayer was in Washington Street 
 Church, and who was buried from there ; Thacher, 
 Stillman, Carpenter, Seney, Jewett, Sanford, Richard- 
 son, Griffin, Clark, and Brown. Noble men of God 
 were these. 
 
 The following sketch of Bishop Hedding will be 
 read with interest : . 
 
 SKETCH OF BISHOP ELIJAH HEDDING, D.D. 
 
 Comparatively few of our members are familiar with the 
 name or character of Bishop Hedding. He was one of the 
 great men of the past. Great in his wisdom, great in his 
 goodness, great in his simplicity, great in his successes ; so 
 great that he had few superiors, if any, in a ministry of 
 fifty years, or in the high office of Bishop, which he filled 
 for a period of twenty-eight years. He was a native of 
 Dutchess county, N. Y., born in the year 1780, and 
 emigrated with his parents to Vermont in 1791. His 
 boyhood was characterized by strong religious convictions, 
 with a will as sturdy as a giant oak ; and the mental con- 
 flicts of his young life were truly marvellous. Those con- 
 flicts arose from questions between truth and error ; be- 
 tween sin and righteousness. The grace of God, and the 
 teaching of a Christian mother gave him at last a victory 
 over self, sin and Satan. 
 
 When 1 8 years of age he was converted. His conversion 
 was hardly akin to many of the professed conversions of 
 modern times, which may be summed up in a rigid morali- 
 ty, a connection with the visible church, and observing of 
 Christian ordinances. ".Conversion " with young Hedding 
 meant all the word implies. 
 
 In proof, he attended a religious service one Sabbath 
 day ; the minister was absent. He was induced to read a 
 sermon to the people, as he had done before, because he 
 was a good reader. A pious woman made a direct personal 
 appeal to him at the close of the service, which deeply 
 affected his heart. Journeying homeward he turned into 
 a grove and kneeling by a large tree, covenanted with
 
 30 Methodism in Poughkcepsie. 
 
 God to cease from sin, and at any and every cost God 
 might require, seek the salvation of his soul. 
 
 Fifty-four years after this, he said, " in that hour I 
 solemnly made a dedication of my soul to God. I laid my 
 all, soul, body, goods, for time and for eternity upon the 
 altar, and I have never, never taken them back. My bur- 
 den of guilt was removed from my conscience, and soon 
 after, the light of the spirit broke in upon my mind as 
 clear, and as perceptible to me, as the shining of the sun 
 when it comes from behind a cloud, testifying that I was 
 ' born of God? Not a doubt, or fear, or moment's un- 
 certainty, clouded my spirit." 
 
 What a conversion ! How apostolic ! What a forcible 
 illustration " of salvation by grace through faith ? " 
 
 As a further evidence of the genuineness of his religious 
 experience and the devoutness of his religious life, the 
 writer heard from his own lips, this testimony, a little 
 while before his death : " For forty years I have never 
 laid my head upon my pillow and closed my eyes in sleep 
 without a sense of God's approval ! " 
 
 Blessed heart work ; repentance, faith, pardon, the wit- 
 ness of pardon ; joy unspeakable and full of glory. He 
 " knew whom he had believed." 
 
 His conversion, however clear, did not put him beyond 
 the reach of temptation. Very soon after his conversion 
 commenced a " warfare " that terminated only with his 
 life. 
 
 He started, intent on running the whole race He 
 fought to conquer ; fighting fifty long years, through 
 abounding grace he was victor, and in the end triumphed 
 gloriously. 
 
 Decision of character was one of his marked traits. He 
 was not one to be beguiled by the world, or to be swerved 
 from devout holy living. 
 
 He was not careful to see with how little religion he 
 could get along respectably as a church member, but how 
 much, and how best, he could know " the heights and 
 depths of the love of God, which passeth knowledge." 
 
 It was worth his living did he no more than exemplify 
 God's mercy in his experience of pardon ; the witness of 
 the spirit, his growth in grace, and his triumphant death.
 
 Methodism in Poughkccpsie. 31 
 
 Let it not be said that Hedding's experience in the 
 divine life was an exception ; or in view of his call to the 
 work of this ministry. It was no more, no less, than God 
 requires of^all true Christians. If one such, there may be 
 more, yea many. The " grace " that saved him, can save 
 us in. like manner. 
 
 Physically, Bishop Hedding was of fine, manly propor- 
 tions, six feet in height. 
 
 His was a daring spirit, not presumptuous, possessing 
 great power of endurance with indomitable energy and 
 force of character ; all this was exemplified in a half cen- 
 tury of deep religious experience, of toil, hardships, and 
 sacrifices, which made him essentially heroic, and put him 
 in the front rank of the successors of Asbury, McKendree 
 and our pioneer Bishops. 
 
 In the exemplification of his character he was unique. 
 
 In his high office and pulpit ministrations he was 
 possessed of a gravity fitting the most devout ; but under- 
 neath that grave exterior was a sun-shine life, where wit, 
 humor, and all the social elements were alive ; making him 
 one of the most genial, loving, and lovable of men. 
 
 His fund of anecdote was inexhaustible ; and in con- 
 versation at the fire side, while relating incidents of his life 
 you were convulsed with laughter, or thrilled with the 
 events of his early ministry ; detailing his travels over 
 circuits hundreds of miles in extent, which had to be com- 
 passed in a given time ; wanting food, sleeping in cabins 
 where he could count the stars through the roof, fording 
 swollen rivers on horseback, traveling in the wilderness ; 
 preaching three times on Sabbath and even other days in 
 the week. Scant in clothing and still more scant in purse ; 
 his salary ranging from five to thirty-five dollars per 
 annum ; all of this was the experience of Elijah Hedding in 
 the early years of his ministry. Yet he rejoiced that he 
 was called to do and to suffer in the name of his Master. 
 
 He makes the following record at the close of the first 
 ten years of his ministry : 
 
 I have averaged over 3,000 miles travel a year, and 
 preached on an average a sermon a day since I commenced 
 my itinerant life. I have never in this time owned a travel- 
 ing vehicle, but have ridden on horseback, except occasion-
 
 32 Methodism in Pouglikeepsie. 
 
 ally in winter, when I have borrowed a sleigh. I had no 
 dwelling place or home ; but as a wayfaring man, lodged 
 from night to night, where hospitality and friendship 
 opened the way, and have traveled many a day in summer 
 and winter without dinner, because I had not a quarter of 
 a dollar that I could spare to buy it." 
 
 The reader may ask was not this a work of supereroga- 
 tion ? The writer answers, no ! 
 
 Elijah Redding was a pioneer Methodist preacher. Few 
 men were fitted for such a life. They possessed neither 
 the courage or endurance, or grace that were needed. 
 
 It was his work to break up " fallow ground." He 
 entered upon fields that were new. Where he preached in 
 his early ministry, the people were strangers to the gospel. 
 A Christian minister was a marvel. Wondrous effects 
 followed. Revivals swept over his fields of labor like a 
 prairie fire. Communities were shaken, as though an 
 earthquake stirred them. 
 
 Men came to his appointments to persecute him and 
 break up his services. Often such men fell under his 
 preaching like men slain in battle, and became helpless as 
 infants. 
 
 He triumphed over the hostility of the most bitter 
 enemies of the gospel, and led them to the foot of the 
 cross ; organized them into classes and churches ; and thus 
 planted seed that eventuated in a glorious harvest. 
 
 Vast portions of Northern New York, the states of 
 Vermont and New Hampshire, and portions of the Canadas 
 were first electrified by the power of the gospel as it fell 
 from the lips of Hedding during the first three years of his 
 ministry. 
 
 Such a ministry was no work of supererogation ; true, it 
 was a ministry of want, of toil ; of sacrifice, and of suffer- 
 ing ; but it was a ministry of " divine power " reaping a 
 harvest of souls, with scarce a parallel in the history of the 
 American church. 
 
 To-day the hundreds of thousands of Christian worship- 
 pers in the sections referred to ; the multitude of beautiful 
 churches in valleys and on mountain tops ; the grandest 
 and best appointments of all this vast area scarcely dream 
 that underlying all, and the foundation of their success was
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 33 
 
 the ministry of the pioneer Hedding one of God's best, 
 noblest, and successful heralds of the cross. 
 
 The last years of his life were spent at his home in this 
 city, and his memory is treasured by many of the older 
 members of our church, who enjoyed his genial companion- 
 ship and sterling friendship. From here he passed away 
 to join that " innumerable company " on the Qth of April, 
 1852. 
 
 The house which he occupied was bequeathed to our 
 Society, and since the death of his widow has been the 
 comfortable parsonage where our pastors reside.
 
 In Memoriam. 
 
 During the winter of 1892, the church was called 
 to bury three of the oldest members in quick succes- 
 sion. The united ages of these three was 253 years ; 
 and the membership of two covering a period of 
 sixty-four and sixty-six years respectively. It was 
 deemed proper that an appropriate memorial service 
 should be held in the church of which they had been 
 members. The Sabbath appointed was the regular 
 communion Sabbath, and it became necessary to 
 blend these two services. The reference to the com- 
 munion will be therefore readily comprehended. It 
 was thought best to publish the whole entire, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " We commemorate to-day the death and passion of 
 our great High Priest. It is possible that the frequency 
 of an established service in the church detracts from 
 its significance, so that the service becomes too much 
 a mere formal observance. Over 1,800 years the 
 church of God has commemorated the agonies of cru- 
 cifixion blended with the Saviour's infinite love. 
 Christ's words, ' In Remembrance of Me,' have 
 never been obliterated from the calendar of the 
 church, or lost sight of by the true disciples of our 
 Lord. The interest in this service has been kept alive 
 by a ' Divine influence ' the Holy comforter, which was 
 conditioned on the withdrawal of the bodily presence 
 of our Redeemer ; so that whatever weakening of in- 
 fluence (if any), by the lapse of ages, has found its 
 counterpart in the ' Fire burning upon God's Altar 
 that has never gone out,' that Baptism of 'Fire,' 
 that ushered in, and has been the crowning glory of 
 the gospel dispensation.
 
 MetJiodism in Poughkecpsie. 35 
 
 "In our commemorative service to-day, we propose 
 to blend in thought and feeling the life and death 
 of some marked and sainted members of our church. 
 No reason why in this blending, we should lose sight 
 of Christ as an atoning sacrifice. Christ our Prophet, 
 Priest and King, Christ, our Redeemer, Christ our 
 Present, all-sufficient Saviour. It will be a vain ser-. 
 vice to-day, if we, at its close, are not in closer com- 
 munion with Christ than before. And why not re- 
 cognize the disciples as well as the Lord ? The Di- 
 vine records made Christ preeminent, but how much 
 is said of Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Peter, James and 
 John. 
 
 " It is fitting that we recall the ' fellowship ' of some 
 sainted women of our day, whose fellowship was 
 sweetened and hallowed by Christ's death, A ' fel- 
 lowship,' that is the earnest, the foretaste of an eter- 
 nal fellowship in Heaven. 
 
 " Within a few weeks past three, among the eldest 
 members of our church our honored ones have pass- 
 ed from labor to reward. The church poorer ! Heaven 
 richer. Jane Rundle, ^. 81 ; Joanna Darrow, ^. 
 92 ; Susan Howard, .^i. 80. The united ages of 
 these three was two hundred and fifty-three years. 
 And now, concerning these recently departed, what 
 have we to commemorate ? What, beside the simple 
 fact, that like others, they were members of this 
 church, lived and died in its communion ? Observe in 
 these cases, like many who have gone before ; it is 
 not simply a life, but 'the' life, not simply a death, 
 but ' the ' death. 
 
 " Here let me ask a question. What is the true 
 value and estimate of human life in its ' character ' 
 and ' surroundings ?' Is it in the adventitious circum- 
 stances that shape the destiny f that life, that minis- 
 ters to it affluence, ease, luxury, pleasure, such as the
 
 36 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 world covets ; exalting the few above the many ? I an- 
 swer, No. If this were so, we should have little to 
 commemorate in the lives of these departed ones. 
 We have nothing to contemplate in either case of the 
 coveted adventitious circumstances of the world. 
 Neither one could boast of noble lineage, of the pres- 
 tige of birth, affluence, prominence of position, and 
 yet, they \vere all of them ' women ' of whom the 
 world was not worthy. They were born of honored 
 parentage, but in humble circumstances in life ; 
 schooled in adversity to a large degree, but these ad- 
 versities gave zest to their piety, and efficiency to 
 their endeavors in God's service. They found their 
 enjoyment as all true Christians do, more in the ser- 
 vice of God, than in the pleasures of the world ; jour- 
 neying toward Mount Zion and singing as they go, 
 pointing Heavenward. 
 
 ' There is my house and portion fair, 
 My treasure and my heart are there, 
 And my abiding home.' 
 
 " In a worldly sense their life was largely a life of en- 
 durance, of toil, of care. Notwithstanding this, in 
 the church they were honored In the church they 
 were a power. They were pilgrims, in a comparative 
 sense, journeying in a wilderness, but never a day 
 without the pillar of cloud and fire. God gave them 
 living springs of water in their desert, and their bread 
 was sure. It is true, as a last resort, two of them, 
 fleeing from the avenger 'Poverty,' (not pauperism); 
 made pilgrimage as in the days of Moses, when God 
 provided cities of refuge, among the Israelites ; two 
 of these sainted women made pilgrimage to that 
 ' Refuge,' environed by the beautiful homes of our 
 city, ' The Old Ladies' Home.' They came, knock- 
 ed at the gate. God's angels were there, and let 
 them in ; and ' Poverty ' in their case, was outside 
 the gate.
 
 'Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 37 
 
 " The avenger was avenged briefly let me say, we 
 commemorate their ' Long Life ' and their ' Early 
 Consecration ' to God, we commemorate their ' De- 
 vout Life.' 
 
 " They were not merely formal members of the 
 church. To them, the church, was " God's Vine- 
 yard " and in it, they were toilers. They were not 
 turned aside from the established means of grace by 
 the ordinary attractions of the world. Always in 
 their place in the house of God, unless providentially 
 detained, walking with God ! Knowing in whom 
 they had believed ! Can you not see some attraction 
 here worthy of imitation ? Keen regrets were often 
 theirs, of their inability to do for God and His cause 
 according to their hearts' desire. Humbly in their 
 sorrow they would often whisper. ' Silver and Gold 
 have I none, but such as I have give I unto thee.' 
 And they brought their ' Gifts ' to the sanctuary. 
 And such gifts ! 
 
 "There are few living who well remember the 
 ' hush,' that pervaded the assembly in public ser- 
 vice, when Jane Rundle was asked to lead in prayer. 
 Who that ever heard her can forget the melting 
 tender influences that followed. ' Eyes,' brimming 
 with tears, and hearts all aglow. It always paid to 
 go to the sanctuary and hear Jane Rundle pray, and 
 catch the inspiration of her devotions. The audience 
 would linger in breathless suspense, until the thrilled 
 hearts would overflow with Divine influence and lips 
 would give utterance to praise. 
 
 This fact should not be omitted ; as was her cus- 
 tom after her meal, she laid herself upon her couch 
 to sleep, and slept ; and before waking, passed through 
 the pearly gates. 
 
 " Joanna Darrow was less demonstrative in the public 
 services of the church, but no less devout, an un-
 
 3 8 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 obtrusive model of Christian excellence, that never 
 failed to attract Christward, and to excite, by her 
 example, ambition to follow the Master. 
 
 " More of you will remember the devoted Susan 
 Howard, as she was permitted of God to come to the 
 sanctary, years after the others were disabled. We 
 make no invidious distinction between these three 
 honored Christian women. Susan Howard possibly 
 surpassed in the roughness of her life, and the severity 
 of her trials. But what gifts were hers ? Listening 
 to her testimony for God and Grace, you would be ab- 
 sorbed by the thought that her lips were hallowed by 
 a live coal, touched with the finger of God. And the 
 prayers she offered ! when on bended knee she was 
 face to face with God, electrifying vast assemblies, 
 and seemingly made Heaven's gates stand ajar, until 
 you felt that you were with Jacob at Bethel, in the 
 midst of the angels ascending and descending, and 
 involuntarily exclaiming ' God is in this place.' 
 
 " One momentous period and event in the history of 
 these three devoted women, I cannot forbear to 
 mention. 
 
 "It came, it is true, when they were infirm with age, 
 enfeebled with disease, when they were expectant 
 and waiting, with their lamps trimmed and burning, 
 for their lamps never went out. 
 
 " In quick succession, there came to each a 
 messenger, bearing a message, stamped with the seal 
 of God. 
 
 " The messenger needed no introduction ; he had 
 been long expected. They were not afraid. The 
 message was brief ' Behold the Bridegroom Cometh ! ' 
 ' Haste Ye ! ' ' The Chariot and Horseman are here ! 
 God's angels are the Escort.' 
 
 " In a moment, they were disrobed of mortality, and 
 clad with the ' raiment of the saints,' passed into
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 39 
 
 the chariot, with no sad regrets, no clinging, to earth, 
 but away and upward, their souls ravished with the 
 vision of ' Pearly Gates,' ravished with ' Celestial 
 Music,' ravished with the beaming Glory of the Son 
 of God, their Saviour. Ravished, as they clasped 
 hands with loved ones long since gone before, catch- 
 ing anew the ' Alleluiahs ' from angelic lips, and 
 shouting back to earth a glad refrain, ' Home at last.' ' 
 
 Here, was no wasted lives ! 
 Here, was no wreck at sea ! 
 Home, at last ! 
 
 The poetic words which follow embrace so much 
 of their daily experience, in their chequered lives, we 
 cannot forbear quoting the same : 
 
 NOT KNOWING. 
 
 " Not knowing the things that shall befall me." 
 Acts xx : 22. 
 
 BY M. G. BRAINARD. 
 
 I know not what shall befall me ; 
 
 God hangs a mist o'er my eyes. 
 And thus, at each step of my onward path, 
 
 He makes new scenes to rise ; 
 And every joy he sends me comes 
 
 As a sweet and glad surprise. 
 
 I see not a step before me, 
 
 As I tread on another year ; 
 But the past is in God's keeping. 
 
 The future His mercy shall clear, 
 And what looks dark in the distance 
 
 May brighten as I draw near. 
 
 For perhaps the dreaded future 
 
 Is less bitter than I think ; 
 And the Lord may sweeten the waters 
 
 Before I stoop to drink ; 
 Or if Marah must be Marah, 
 
 He will stand beside its brink. 
 
 It may be He keeps waiting, 
 
 Till the coming of my feet, 
 Some gift of such rare blessedness, 
 
 Some joy so strangely sweet, 
 That my lips shall only tremble 
 
 With the thanks they cannot speak.
 
 4O Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 restful, blissful ignorance ! 
 Tis blessedness not to know ; 
 
 It stills me in those mighty arms 
 
 Which will not let me go. 
 And sweetly hushes my soul to rest 
 
 On the bosom which loves me so ! 
 
 So I go on, not knowing ; 
 I would not if I might ; 
 
 1 would rather walk in the dark with God 
 
 Than go alone in the light ; 
 I would rather walk with Him by faith 
 Than walk alone by sight. 
 
 My heart shrinks back from trials 
 Which the future may disclose ; 
 
 Yet I never had a sorrow 
 
 But what the dear Lord chose ; 
 
 So I send the coming tears back 
 With the whispered words. " He knows.
 
 Sabbath School History. 
 
 The Sabbath school forms a very important part 
 in the rise and spread of Methodism in Poughkeepsie, 
 and has been a most important auxiliary. 
 
 In 1814 that eminent servant of God, " Elijah Mor- 
 gan ; whose devotion to the church and Methodism, 
 was scarce equalled in the early history of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church in this city, formed the 
 first catechetical class," the prelude to the organization 
 of the Sabbath school of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in this city. This was when James M. 
 Smith was preacher in charge on Dutchess circuit, and 
 when Poughkeepsie was included in that circuit. 
 They first met in a private house on Saturday p. M., 
 and it is a fact of history, that no matter how pressing 
 the business of Brother Morgan, it was always laid 
 aside when the hour came for class instruction. This 
 class was some thirty in number, and it speaks volumes 
 for the moral power and blessedness of this work, 
 that the entire class were in due time happily convert- 
 ed ; and grand and noble workers in the church until 
 death. 
 
 We would like to preserve the names of this class 
 for future reference, only thirty in number, and yet, 
 it has become a " thousand," and more, William W. 
 Reynolds, born May 21, 1807; died March 27, 1873. 
 In process of time he become one of the most hon- 
 ored and distinguished merchants of this city, re- 
 spected and beloved by the entire community. The 
 day of his burial was one of general sadness and sor- 
 row. Every store in the city closed its doors. In 
 the church he was the chief especially in all its tern-
 
 42 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 poralities. He died right, trusting in the merits of 
 his Redeemer. Mary Reynolds and Catharine, his 
 sisters, each lived to exemplify the saving power of 
 Divine Grace, and were victorious over the last enemy. 
 Another sister, Hannah, the last surviving member of 
 this class lives, and is journeying Heavenward, 1892. 
 Simeon Hart, Hannah Hart, James Hart ; each ran 
 their Christian race with joy. Vincent Palen, died an 
 honored minister of Christ. George Sprague, a life- 
 long sabbath school worker, entered into rest joy- 
 fully. Lavina Morgan finished her course in Troy, 
 N. Y., triumphant. Wm. S. Morgan, the son, and 
 successor of Elijah Morgan, caught the mantle of his 
 father, converted under the ministry of John Newland 
 Maffitt ; was over fifty years a bright and shining 
 light, and passed through death triumphant, home, 
 Sept. 17, 1886, ^:. 79 years. Janette Manchester, 
 Lydia Manchester, David Stanton, Margaret and 
 Lydia Carson, Wm. Arnold, Erie Arnold, have left 
 records in their lives that give assurance they, too, 
 passed through the gate into the city. So far as our 
 records show, this first class, the " first fruits " of 
 Methodism is safely garnered. 
 
 The first " Sunday School Society " of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church in this city, was organized in 
 1825, under the pastoral oversight of Rev. Aaron 
 Pierce. A constitution was adopted and thirty-five 
 names recorded as members. At this writing all are 
 dead. Under the pastorate of Rev. M. Richardson, 
 in 1827, the constitution was revised, and fifty ad- 
 ditional members were added. In 1831, School No. 
 2 was formed, to meet in Union street or vicinity. 
 The aggressive spirit of Methodism was being de- 
 veloped. Prior to the organization of the Sunday 
 School Society, the school was conducted by volun-
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 4$ 
 
 teer teachers, Brother Elijah Morgan being the 
 chief manager. 
 
 From the year 1825, the time of the organization of 
 the Sunday School Society, Thomas M. Brewer, was 
 acting superintendent up to 1831. In 1831 he was 
 succeeded by Gideon H. Osborn. In 1835. Osborn 
 was succeeded by Smith W. Arnold. In 1844-45, 
 Wm. S. Morgan was superintendent. In 1846, Wm. 
 Berry. In 1847, Liberty Hyde. In 1849, Wm. S. 
 Morgan was reflected superintendent. His whole 
 superintendency was twenty-Jive years. Brother Mor- 
 gan was succeeded by Lemuel J. Hopkins, a worthy 
 successor of a worthy superintendent for several years. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins was succeeded by Edwin Marshall 
 and he in turn, by Geo. E. Cramer, now the- incum- 
 bent (1892) in his 23d year of service. 
 
 For successive years Mrs. Elizabeth Hall has been, 
 and now is, a most worthy lady superintendent of 
 Washington Street Sabbath-school. 
 
 Cannon Street Church on its organization fell into 
 line in Sunday-school work ;. and so the Hedding, and 
 German ; and eternity only will reveal, how much the 
 M. E. Church in Poughkeepsie, has been indebted to 
 the " Sabbath School." 
 
 The report of 1892 will show, at least, under our 
 banner, . 1 20 officers and teachers and one thousand 
 scholars, in the Methodist Sunday-schools of this city. 
 
 For nearly thirty years in succession, the Washing- 
 ton Street Sunday School had as secretary, James Rey- 
 nolds, Jr., who was converted and joined the church 
 at the same time of the writer, under the pastorate of 
 Rev. Wm. Jewett, 1830. He was the younger 
 brother of the Reynolds family, so frequently referred 
 to. He died in 1865, aged 49, and now sleeps in our 
 beautiful cemetery, surrounded by wife, children, and 
 grandchildren, all of his immediate family, save one,
 
 44 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 "Son, James Reynolds," now a merchant in this city. 
 Methodism never had a warmer heart, nor the M. E. 
 Church in Poughkeepsie a more devoted adherent 
 than. James Reynolds, Jr. ; crowned early. 
 
 " Oh, for the touch of a vanished hand, 
 And the sound of a voice that is still." 
 
 The constitution of 1827 was so amended as to 
 allow the election of five female managers. The first 
 elected were : Sarah Richardson, Ann Brewer, 
 Elizabeth Near, Elizabeth Thacher, Mrs. Jacobs. 
 
 As a matter of the interest we record here the 
 names of some of the early Sabbath-school workers ; 
 John Longfield ; Andrew Smith ; Thomas F. Newell : 
 Moses Armstrong and wife ; James Bell and wife ; 
 G. H. Osborn ; Liberty Hyde ; Robert Hoffman ; 
 Wm. Berry ; Wm. Cornwell ; L. M. Vincent ; J. 
 Reynolds, Jr. ; S. K. Darrow ; Enoch L. Fancher ; 
 James H. Darrow ; Charles Armstrong ; John A. 
 Cole ; E. B. Bailey ; L. J. Hopkins ; A. P. Lent ; 
 Isaac Reynolds ; Wm. S. Reynolds ; Louis H. Hal- 
 pin ; Brother Halpin, a worthy assistant superintend- 
 ent many years ; and noble women, not a few : Ann 
 Brewer ; Deborah Stanton ; Martha B. Law ; Charity 
 Van Kleeck ; Nancy M. Richardson ; Hannah Mor- 
 gan ; Mrs. Bishop Hedding ; Mrs. A. B. Harvey ; 
 Jane Rundle ; Mrs. A. Champlin ; Martha Hyde ; 
 Amanda Thacher ; and others equally worthy. 
 
 All crowned ! now, save five. (1892.) 
 
 Of this company it may be said, " Faithful and 
 true," without exception ; " Sowing seed, beside all 
 waters " ; and the Methodist Church in this city is, 
 to-day, enjoying the " Harvest," the fruit of their 
 Labor. 
 
 The writer may be pardoned for one or two inci- 
 dents connected with some of these Sunday School 
 workers ; instance the sainted Jas. Bell. In 1827,
 
 Methodism in Poughkccpsie. 45 
 
 under the pastorate of Rev. M. Richardson, there was 
 a gracious revival in the mother church. One even- 
 ing there came to the altar a man of middle age, 
 known to be exceedingly intemperate ; with no unbe- 
 coming conduct, he approached the altar and knelt 
 among the mourners. " James Bell " had known him 
 for years, and at once imagining his coming as the 
 freak of a drunken man, spake to him and asked, 
 " Why are you here, Robert ? " He quietly answered, 
 " I have come to seek religion." He was in no wise 
 disorderly, but in a few moments quietly arose and 
 taking his hat in hand, passed out of the church went 
 over to the opposite corner, to a hotel, furnished as 
 usual with a " bar" ; asked for liquor, drank it and re- 
 turned to the church, and again made his way to the 
 altar. The service soon closed and Brother Bell again 
 interrogated him, why, here ? His ready response 
 was, " I have come to try and save my soul ; God 
 has called me, and made me feel it is my last call." 
 Pausing a moment, he made a modest request, ''that 
 Mr. Bell should accompany him home," to which as- 
 sent was readily given. Near his residence his steps 
 turned to the " barn, " and opening the stable door, 
 said earnestly, "Mr. Bell, come in and pray with 
 me." The request was granted, and there, beside the 
 quiet horses, Bell prayed. He charged him afterward 
 as to the course he should pursue on the morrow, and 
 Robert solemly avowed, " he had drank his last glass 
 of liquor." Before dawn the ensuing morning, Bell 
 was on his way to the barn, fearing the worst results. 
 All was quiet around, but as he approached the door 
 a voice fell upon his ear ; listening, his heart was 
 thrilled ; it was the " voice of prayer ; and such a 
 prayer meeting as followed at that early dawn in the 
 stable with a repentant sinner, you must imagine if 
 you can. Let it suffice under the watch care of Bell,
 
 46 Methodism in Poiighkcepsie. 
 
 he was at the church in the evening clothed, and in 
 his right mind. Regularly every evening for three 
 weeks he was at that altar until God converted him, 
 and he knew it, too ; saved, soul and body. The faith- 
 ful Sabbath School teacher did not forsake him. Sab- 
 bath morning he was introduced into the Sabbath 
 School, soon joined the church, and for ten successive 
 years lived a devout Christian life, and died a most 
 triumphant death. It was "grace" not a '' mere 
 pledge" that saved him. He never fell or faltered. 
 Our Sabbath School record shows him as filling im- 
 portant stations therein for successive years. (Query : 
 Is it not the best way to save an intemperate man to 
 get him soundly converted ? ) When dying, his last 
 request was, " Take me to my church when dead, set 
 my coffin in my accustomed seat and let the minister 
 point to it and say, a sinner saved by grace." 
 
 Among our most devoted and earnest Sabbath 
 School workers in years agone was Mrs. Rebecca Tit- 
 tamer. She was conspicuous in her work, for gath- 
 ering a large class of half-grown lads ; many of them 
 from very poor families in the city. Those who 
 needed she helped to clothe, and one evening in a 
 week, rain or shine, she had her class together, sympa- 
 thizing with them, advising, praying for them, and 
 making them feel if they had one "friend" living, it 
 was Mrs. Tittamer. She visited them days in suc- 
 cession, that she might the better know their habits of 
 life, and counteract if possible, evil influences. A 
 delicate lady, and yet a power in the church and sab- 
 bath school. It was more than her meat and drink 
 to hold in her grasp these youths, and save them. 
 Passed in the prime of life to her home in Heaven, 
 The day will come when she will say in the presence 
 of God and Agels, " Here Lord, am I and my 
 sheaves! those thou gavest me." In June, 1892, the
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie, 47 
 
 writer grasped the hand of a man in middle life, who 
 was once in the class of Mrs. Tittamer, and who, with 
 tears in his eyes, named the name of Mrs. Tittamer as 
 " the instrument of his success in business and the 
 salvation of his soul." How many such will rise up 
 in a coming day and call her blessed. 
 
 The minister, who attended the funeral of Mrs. 
 Tittamer, among other things said thus : 
 
 The retrospect of this life is to me and to many, 
 of thrilling interest. I have watched it with interest 
 for 40 years. I have known it from the cradle to 
 the grave. I can recall to-day, the smile of infancy, 
 the prattle of childhood, the blush of early woman- 
 hood. I have vivid recollections of the hand in hand 
 journeying of this daughter with her widowed mother, 
 as for many years they were all in all, to each other, 
 and God their friend. I remember her as the Sabbath- 
 school scholar, the penitent at God's altar, and the 
 early consecration of herself to God and his church. 
 I have known her in " holy wedlock," journeying 
 with one, now bereaved and sorrowing ; and how 
 many have known her, as a devout Christian woman ; 
 upon whose heart the altar fire was ever burning ; 
 whose hands were ever full of loving and tender 
 ministrations ; whose sympathies were well nigh un- 
 bounded to the poor, the unfortunate, to the stranger 
 within our gates. 
 
 Many young men were led to Christ through her 
 instrumentality, and her weekly meetings with these 
 persons, her tears, advice, encouragement, and prayers, 
 her continual looking after, in sunshine and in storm 
 all of these marked her as one of the most persistent, 
 loving, and effectual, of our Christian workers. 
 
 God has taken one of our most earnest, devout 
 Christian women ; one whose meekness, whose 
 humility, love, faith, purity, whose earnest work for
 
 48 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 God is rarely excelled. Over her life God reigned. 
 Not less over her Death. It was meet, that after 
 such a life her sunset should be without a cloud. 
 Not a shadow, over the closing scenes of her pilgrim- 
 age, save the physical suffering, and weariness of ex- 
 hausted nature. No fear. Under the consciousness 
 of dying her calm response was, " Wasting ; Watch- 
 ing ; Waiting ! " 
 
 The day before she died, when she could scarce lift 
 a hand, or speak a whisper, from a sudden inspiration 
 she rose suddenly in her bed, and in a clear voice, and 
 with much energy, sent a message to the church as 
 follows : 
 
 " When you meet my poor boys in the street, speak 
 to them kind words ; kind words will cost you no- 
 thing, lead them in the right way. Care for these ; 
 I cannot, now." 
 
 She fell back upon her pillow and whispered, Going 
 to Heaven! Rest for the. weary! Her last words 
 were, " Going to Heaven" Rebecca Tittamer, 
 " through the gate, into the city." 
 
 " Where, angels themselves cannot tell, 
 
 The joys of that holiest place ; 
 Where Jesus is pleased to reveal, 
 The light of His Heavenly Face." 
 
 " Where, caught in the rapturous flame, 
 
 The sight beatific they prove, 
 And walk in the light of the Lamb, 
 Enjoying the beams of His Love." 
 
 In the Sabbath-school, of which we have been 
 speaking, there was what was familiarly known as 
 the " Reserve Corps " : Hetty Marshall, Rebecca 
 Tittamer, Isabel Fanning, Mrs. Doct. A. B. Harvey, 
 Elizabeth Hall, Sally Hawkins, Mrs. A. Champlin, 
 Lucretia Marble, Allie Lent, Mrs. Louisa Reynolds. 
 They were always supposed equal to any emergency, 
 and they never failed.
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 49 
 
 The " Alumni " of the Washington Street Sabbath 
 School, who passed into the traveling ministry, were 
 as follows : Jacob Shaw, Wm. Blake, . Dayton, 
 . Brice, A. C. Foss, L. M. Vincent. 
 
 Worthy of marked distinction, a member of the 
 Washington Street M. E. Church Sabbath School, 
 was Mrs. N. Mansell, nee Monell, who was received 
 into the church under the pastorate of Rev. L. M. 
 Vincent, and who dedicated her life to missionary 
 work in India. Nineteen years has she spent in that 
 heathen land, in devoted missionary labor. In 1891, 
 with impaired health, she returned to visit the home 
 of her childhood. In September, 1^92, she returns to 
 India to labor, to live or die as God sees fit. India 
 has heard from the Sabbath School of Washington 
 Street M. E. Church. 
 
 I cannot refuse to gratify the desire and solicitation 
 of friends, to insert in this volume, the sketch, deliv- 
 ered at the funeral of our beloved Brother Wm. S. 
 Morgan, so prominent in Sabbath-school and church : 
 
 How true as quoted, and full of tenderness, " Our 
 bitterest sorrows are enfolded in our greatest delights." 
 Sooner or later homes mean heart breaks, and love 
 means loneliness. Love must always bear a cross, and 
 the more nearly divine it is, the deeper is the mark. 
 
 " God gives us Love ! Something to Love 
 He sends us, and when Love is grown 
 'I o ripeness, that on which it thrives 
 Falls off, and Love is left alone." 
 
 This man was my brother in Christ. An intimacy 
 of well nigh 60 years has been as a golden band weld- 
 ing our hearts ; and in all these years, never once 
 disrupted ; not broken now ; only God has added one 
 more link to the chain which stretches out to the home 
 beyond. 
 
 Much of the burden of this hour is lifted in the 
 sweet assurance of our blessed Redeemer, to wit :
 
 5<D Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 " In my Father's House are many Mansions ; if it 
 were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare 
 a place for you ! and if I go and prepare a place for 
 you, I will come again and receive you unto myself ; 
 that where I am, ye may be also." 
 
 If I was asked to-day whither has our departed 
 brother gone, I should answer without misgiving, 
 " Look ye to the prepared place." "The House of 
 many Mansions " ; at Home, with God and Angels. 
 
 With his body in our presence, our thoughts turn 
 to "death," to separation, and the whole catalogue of 
 ills which follow in the train of death. We all appre- 
 hend these, and dread them. In our childhood they 
 stared us in the face, and our fear thereof drove us to 
 parental arms. In youth, manhood, extreme age, this 
 dread of dying, is the foe of our peace, our ambitions, 
 our hopes. It is a very " taint " to all our pursuits 
 and purposes ! an ever present consciousness, that 
 despite all we gain of worldly good, and all we escape 
 of evil, we cannot escape death. 
 
 How cheering then the words of our " Redeemer" 
 quoted a moment since, portraying to our vision an 
 "Existence" bright and beautiful beyond. Words 
 implying a " reunion," after " separation " ; implying 
 "exemption," after all our "suffering," in the body ; 
 implying " immortality " ; that there shall be no more 
 death. So death is not a "finality" the end of our 
 Being. 
 
 Our thoughts are daily reaching out to the end of 
 our pilgrimage, to the last fearful stroke, when disease 
 has baffled the profoundest skill of the physician ; 
 when scalding tears fall upon the face, we have look- 
 ed upon so long, and loved so much, when hearts are 
 broken, and the link which has bound life to life is 
 severed, but when this fearful stroke has fallen there 
 comes back to us as a refrain from the city of God :
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 5 1 
 
 " In my Father's House are many Mansions. I go to 
 prepare a place for you." 
 
 This does not imply a " New Creation." This an- 
 nouncement of our Redeemer was not the hour of 
 Heavens Birth. The song of Redemption had been 
 sung there near 4000 years before. Its first note fell 
 from the lips of righteous Abel, who, though in the 
 angels' presence, yet solitary and alone, sang the first 
 song of Redemption, " unto him who loved us, and 
 washed us in his own blood, to him be glory forever 
 and ever." 
 
 So when the Lord Christ announced " I go to pre- 
 pare a place for you," it was not that Heaven's light 
 was now to be created, and its music first sung. 
 These words have a spiritual significance, and they 
 present the fact that Christ was to become our 
 " surety. " " Surety " for our full and complete re- 
 demption of soul and body ; a redemption no longer a 
 subject of promise and prediction, " but an accom- 
 plished/act ; " stamping it with the seal of his own 
 resurrection, that ever hereafter death could only reign 
 by "sufferance," not by "right." So, I go to pre- 
 pare a place for you into the Holiest, by a new and 
 living way by my own blood. And if I go, I will 
 come again and receive you unto myself, that where 
 I am there ye shall be also. I go, men will make me 
 captive, crucify, and bury me. But, " if I die, I shall 
 live again," " and because I live, ye shall live also." 
 Wondrous revelation this, a glorious vision bursting 
 on wrecked humanity, portrayed by divine lips. It is 
 as if the Master said, there shall be purpose in my 
 "death." By dying, I shall prepare the " place" and 
 the " way." There shall be purpose in my " burial." 
 In the grave assigned me I shall plant the "seed" of 
 a "new existence," which in due time shall germinate, 
 and the fruitage of that seed shall be a harvest of un-
 
 52 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 dying bodies of every kindred tongue and people 
 under Heaven ; a multitude no man can number, 
 reaching back to the first guilty pair, and forward to 
 the end of time, stamping with immortality the whole 
 created intelligence of God. 
 
 With such a revelation as this, our departure from 
 earth, should have less of sorrow and more of delight- 
 ful anticipation. It is but a removal from one de- 
 partment to another. The transition is from this 
 earthly tabernacle to the building of God, our tempo- 
 rary separations are but the prelude to our eternal re- 
 union. And the dreaded river from which we shrink 
 becomes, in the language of a little child dying in the 
 arms of a beloved mother, " Only a little brook 
 after all" This revelation " is the substance of 
 things hoped for " the evidence of the unseen. Our 
 faith must grasp it as such. It is the want of "faith " 
 that makes every dark cloud in our horizon portend 
 the lightning and storm, that resolves our every-day 
 experience of life into a sad and calamitous con- 
 dition. This should not be so. While our mercies 
 are from God, the appropriation of them is with our- 
 selves through "faith, " and our faith should make 
 real unto us the immutability of God's promises, the 
 tenderness of His care. Faith has but one response 
 to God's providences that we cannot fathom, "God 
 reigneth." This faith in God comprehends God, 
 links us to God, and makes God available to us 
 in every extremity of life and death. God reigneth ! 
 But let us not suppose because of this, that every 
 sea of life must be calm and placid, every sky 
 serene, every path stoneless, God reigns in the 
 frost and ice as well as in the genial breath of 
 spring, fragrant with flowers ; in the storm, as in the 
 sunshine ; in our afflictions as well as in our comforts. 
 It" is all the same as to the truth in question, whether
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 53 
 
 he rides upon the wings of the wind, or whether his 
 tread be as the stealthy tread of the mother around 
 the cradle of her first born. 
 
 Very few have excelled our Brother in the 
 power of this faith, and why ? He wore a panoply 
 Divine. His was a "character" that opened wide 
 the portals of Divine grace, through which beamed 
 a light that revealed God to him as a loving 
 father, and the ministrations of his Providence as 
 expressive of parental care. With him, "charac- 
 ter" was the first and highest thing. His motto was, 
 like that of Goethe, "The history of a man is his 
 character." In perfecting this, he sought the inspira- 
 tion and pattern of his manhood at the highest source, 
 the life and teachings of our Blessed Redeemer. His 
 earthly pilgrimage reached a period of seventy-nine 
 years within four days. Its wholesome fruitage, and 
 whatever commends itself to our admiration and love 
 is due to " Christ" To God he gave his heart, to 
 Him he dedicated his life, more than fifty years ago. 
 
 When he gave his heart to God he consecrated his 
 life work to the church of his choice ; and rare is the 
 man whose fidelity and constancy, whose love to the 
 house of God and the appointed means of grace " ex- 
 celled him. He ranked among the first of his brethren 
 in zeal, devotion, liberality and perseverance, never 
 faltering until " the keepers of the house began to 
 tremble," and " the grasshopper became a burden." 
 
 In the Prayer Meeting, the Sunday School, over 
 which he presided more than twenty years as its su- 
 perintendent, he was building up his own "charac- 
 ter" and modelling others. His religious character 
 was developed as well in his " business " as in the 
 sanctuary where he so delighted in singing the songs 
 of Zion. Nearly fifty successive years he was a lead- 
 ing merchant in our city, commanding the confidence
 
 54 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 and respect of the entire community, and his name to- 
 day is like precious ointment poured forth. His re- 
 ligious character was developed in his home, of wed- 
 ded life, just passed fifty-three years. Whether as 
 priest at the family altar, or in the social intercourse of 
 the household, upon him rested a Divine benediction. 
 His home was a " Bethel " where peace reigned and 
 God dwelt. A gentleman of the old school he was 
 rarely excelled in his gentlemanly demeanor. His 
 politeness has passed into a proverb. His social life, 
 genial in the extreme, developed in his advanced years 
 the " vivacity of youth." He seemed never to grow 
 old. Paradoxical as it may appear, he was a "young, 
 old man," until stricken down with disease about 
 five months prior to his death. 
 
 Never in his life was his " Religious Character " 
 more fully developed than during his lingering illness 
 and in his peaceful, quiet death. There is something 
 always enchanting " in the chamber where the good 
 man meets his fate." I always linger here with 
 solemn delight and never do I feel more in the imme- 
 diate presence of God and angels than in the room of 
 the dying Christian. There God dwells, chariots are 
 in waiting, angels whisper. My faith is never shaken 
 by the variety of exercises there developed when life's 
 work, and " character " are well wrought, to comple- 
 tion. It is all the same, whether the departure is like 
 the infant smiling in its last wakeful moments, resting 
 upon the bosom of its loving mother, or like a triump- 
 hant victor, who proclaims his conquest by a shout 
 long and loud. It is all the same, whether the approach 
 of death is by measured tread and slackened pace, 
 making the night long and the dawn of the morning 
 slow, or whether he strikes quick and sudden as the 
 lightning's flash. Even " Sudden Death," is " Sudden 
 Glory." We need no dying utterance from this good
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 55 
 
 man's lips to tell of a prospect bright beyond. His 
 life is the index of his destiny over and beyond the 
 swelling flood. Patiently submissive, with invigorated 
 Faith, with hope as an anchor to the soul, never 
 doubting, or fearing, he reached the end. Gently, 
 was the silver chord loosed and the golden bowl 
 broken. He "fell on sleep'' waking to join the 
 church of the first born in Heaven. Oh, voiceless 
 land, through whose closed gates none come back to 
 tell how eloquent art thou in thine unbroken silence 
 of garnered love, of burdens laid down, of eternal 
 rest, and praise. Farewell precious brother, not for 
 long ! only till the day breaks, and the shadows flee 
 away. 
 
 " Rest comes at length, though life be long and dreary, 
 The day must dawn, and darksome night be past ; 
 All journeys end in welcome to the weary, 
 And ' Heaven ,' the heart's true home, will come at last."
 
 Families. 
 
 Among the families who gathered at the altars of 
 the mother church in its early days are names that 
 will not be forgotten while the church lives. Their 
 devotion to the interests of Zion, their prompt and 
 faithful attendance, their liberality and personal sacri- 
 fices for the church are not easily excelled. : The Mor- 
 gans, Reynold's, Armstrong's, Brewer, Rundle, Stan- 
 tons, Hyde, Williams, Hopkins, and others. 
 
 Several passed from the mother church to the new 
 and later branches, Cannon street, Hedding, and con- 
 tinued their devotedness until God said, it is enough, 
 " come up higher.' 1 These were large families in the 
 main, and some of their posterity still linger, " pres- 
 sing toward the mark for the prize." These of olden time 
 nursed Methodism in its infancy, supplying it with all 
 things necessary for its temporal existence, not with- 
 holding their most ardent endeavors' for the church's 
 spiritual welfare. No stress of weather, no worldly 
 amusements, no luxury at home and comforts of the 
 fireside kept them from the house of God. It was 
 their refreshment and pleasure, the stated means of 
 grace. For the care of the church they were like a 
 break-water at the entrance of the harbor, a sure de- 
 fence. They were guards against encroachments, and 
 " watchers " that the fire on the altar of the sanctuary 
 " never went out." Watchers, toilers, care-takers of 
 God's heritage, behold the fruitage ! 
 
 The " social element " of the church in days agone 
 is not exactly " one of the lost arts." The remnant 
 remains, and has yet some attraction and frequency. 
 It is a pleasant memory, how the social and religious
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 57 
 
 were combined in days long agone. Never a " social 
 gathering " then, that was not invariably sanctified by 
 prayer, by devotional exercises It was deemed a se- 
 rious drawback to all social interviews, the lack of the 
 conscious presence of the " Master," which was sel- 
 dom the case. And many a cloud of mercy, many a 
 passing shower of Divine grace was wafted to the 
 sanctuary in answer to the prayer's offered in " social 
 life." The church's benefit " was the early and latter 
 rain." Is it not a serious question how far " business " 
 in its drive and hurry, how far the enticement to stay 
 at home after a wearisome day of toil, how far the 
 world has entrenched itself at the very gate, between 
 social life and the church, and barred it ; notwith- 
 standing soqial life hallowed by Divine influences has 
 been, and may be, an efficient instrumentality in the 
 spirituality of the church in the conversion of souls.
 
 A record of some of the early members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie, mostly of the " Mother 
 Church." We wish that our space, and facilities were 
 sufficient, for a full and complete record To resurrect 
 them all would be to present an exceeding great army. 
 Nearly all of this record, have passed to the church 
 triumphant. 
 
 WHEN 
 ADMITTED. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 WHEN DIED. 
 
 w 
 o 
 < 
 
 1788 
 
 Elijah Morgan, Sr 
 
 i8iq 
 
 63 
 
 
 
 Lavina, his wife 
 
 1838 
 
 86 
 
 
 
 Elizabeth Thacker 
 
 1841 
 
 83 
 
 I 7QO 
 
 Gabriel Armstrong 
 
 1830 
 
 
 i /yw 
 
 
 John Stevens 
 
 1836 
 
 Q2 
 
 1805 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1806 
 
 Charles H. Duncomb, ] These five 
 Pollv his wife formed First 
 ^Methodist 
 John Giles, [ Class in PQ ,_ 
 
 Peter Ladue and wife, J keepsie. 
 Jesse Rundle 
 
 1812 
 1812 
 
 1855 
 
 1871 
 
 40 
 
 39 
 76 
 
 04 
 
 
 
 Ann, his wife 
 
 1876 
 
 60 
 
 1809 
 
 Joanna Haywood 
 
 1839 
 
 01 
 
 1810 
 
 Moses Armstrong 
 
 1826 
 
 
 1811 
 
 Elijah Morgan, 2d 
 
 1857 
 
 74 
 
 
 
 Nancy, his wife 
 
 1870 
 
 80 
 
 1812 
 1815 
 
 Sarah Richardson, wife of Rev. M. R. 
 Hannah Luckey 
 
 1857 
 
 1866 
 
 65 
 
 75 
 
 1812 
 
 James Bell 
 
 1843 
 
 55 
 
 
 
 1815 
 1812 
 
 Elizabeth Ann, his wife 
 Eliza Stanton Bates, Cannon St 
 Elizabeth Near 
 
 1888 
 1876 
 
 90 
 
 1815 
 
 Stephen Armstrong 
 
 1864 
 
 73 
 
 tt 
 
 Catharine, his wife 
 
 1863 
 
 70 
 
 l8lA 
 
 Emilv Babcock. . 
 
 I8<4 

 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 59 
 
 NAMES OF MEMBERS. 
 
 Joseph Williams 1862 
 
 1812 Thomas Simpson and wife 
 
 1814 Thomas M. Brewer 1871 
 
 Ann, his wife 
 
 1812 Amelia Hunt 1830 
 
 1810 Jane Maria Jewett, wife of Rev. W. J. 1858 
 
 1814 Andrew Smith. .. 1857 
 
 1815 Charles Davis. . 1 865 
 
 Sarah, his wife 1863 
 
 Pink Carr, (colored) 1878 
 
 Jeremiah Banker 1861 
 
 Ellen, his wife 1863 
 
 1820 Elizabeth Reynolds, mother of Rey- 
 nolds Family so frequently referred 
 
 to 1863 
 
 1823 Charlotte Monell 1853 
 
 Liberty Hyde. . 1887 
 
 Jane, his wife 1890 
 
 1826 Gideon H. Osborn 1840 
 
 1824 E. B. Bailey 1848 
 
 1828 Robert Hoffman 1836 
 
 1829 Phoebe Fanning 
 
 1830 Charity Briggs 1877 
 
 1827 Seneca Halloway 1889 
 
 Albert Champlin 1885 
 
 1830 William Berry 1 879 
 
 Aaro F. Palmer 1885 
 
 Susan, his wife 
 
 1831 Martha B. Law 
 
 Rebecca Gay 1858 
 
 Charity Van Kleeck 
 
 Rosanna Van Kleeck 
 
 Harry Kidney 188 1 
 
 Silva, his wife 1886 
 
 1827 Jane Rundle 1891 
 
 1831 Rachel and Maria Rundle 
 
 Sarah Rundle 
 
 Patience Flagler 1837 
 
 1832 Josiah Williams 1864 
 
 1849 Augustus Jillson 1871 
 
 Charles Storm. . 1862
 
 6o 
 
 Methodism tn Pougkkeepste. 
 
 
 
 NAMES OF MEMBERS. 
 
 1849 
 
 Louis H. Halpin 
 
 Doct. A. B. Harvey 
 
 Charles Armstrong 
 
 A. T. Wainwright, the father of the 
 sainted Mrs. B. H. Trowbridge who 
 died in . . 
 
 George H. Adriance, to whom, Sudden 
 Death was Sudden Glory 
 
 STILL SERVING, 1892, IN ACTIVE 
 SERVICE. 
 
 William Bodden, George E. Cramer, 
 James F. Marble, Doct. Downing, 
 James Myers, Hickock, Card, Dates, 
 Carpenter, Van Kleeck, Palmer, 
 Morey, Williams, W. T. Reynolds, 
 McNamee, Lent, Caughey, Dauchey 
 and others we would love to mention 
 did our space permit. 
 
 STILL VIGOROUS WORKERS IN TRIN- 
 ITY CHURCH. 
 
 Jno. P. H. Tallman, Corydon Wheeler, 
 James D. Burgess, Richard R. Hay- 
 man, James W. Rust, J. J. Bahrett, 
 J. W. Barratt, John Lyke. 
 
 PROMINENT WORKERS IN HEDDING 
 CHURCH. 
 
 Solomon B. Wheeler, William Halpin, 
 Isaac Secor, William T. Frost, John 
 Shickle, Eli Sutcliff and others. 
 
 1890 
 1882 
 
 1891 
 
 54 
 65
 
 Class Meetings. 
 
 Class Meetings were co eval with the birth of Methodism. 
 "Joining Class" was synonymous with "Joining the 
 Church." 
 
 Every class had its duly appointed leader, appointed by 
 the pastor, whose authority in this matter was supreme. 
 
 A " Wilful Neglect " of " class " was in this early day of 
 Methodism, and for long years after, deemed a sufficient 
 cause for depriving the delinquent of membership in the 
 church. By discipline they were " laid aside." The cause 
 to be named to the society, " A neglect of duty," not im- 
 morality. This law of the church has been modified many 
 years since. 
 
 Thejirst class leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in Poughkeepsie was Charles H. Duncomb. The original 
 paper is now before me. He served as leader from 1805 to 
 1812, when God called him home. 
 
 It will be of interest to many to know who composed 
 this first class. They are as follows, with the form of the 
 paper, and a copy of its original entries. The letter B in 
 the first column signifies " believer," in contrast with S, 
 " seeker " as generally appeared in all class-books. The 
 column following each name denotes their " stations in life " 
 so-called : as M, " married ; '' W, " widow ; " S, " single.'' 
 The figures denote their weekly or monthly class collec- 
 tions for the support of the church and ministry : 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cfl 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 
 ~> 
 
 
 
 en 
 
 i i 
 
 
 
 r : j 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 EH 
 
 
 
 
 MEMBERS' NAMES. 
 
 
 
 h- 1 
 
 CJ 
 W 
 
 
 D 
 
 CO 
 
 
 <J 
 
 n 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 in 
 
 u 
 
 
 T 
 
 B 
 
 Chas. H. Duncomb 
 
 M 
 
 ro 
 
 . 
 
 2 
 
 B 
 
 Polly Duncomb 
 
 Al 
 
 CO 
 
 en 
 
 ^ 
 
 B 
 
 Tohn Giles.. 
 
 M 
 
 CO 
 
 5 U 
 
 CO
 
 62 
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 NUMBER. 
 
 STATE. 
 
 MEMBERS' NAMES. 
 
 STATIONS. 
 
 COLLECTIONS. 
 
 
 
 P, 
 
 Richard Armstrong 
 
 
 en 
 
 ^ i~i 
 
 4 
 
 p, 
 
 Ekey Stanton 
 
 
 5 U 
 
 o C 
 
 r> 
 o t 
 
 r. 
 
 p. 
 
 Moses Armstrong 
 
 
 ^3 
 
 co 
 
 -5 
 
 rj 
 
 ]^ 
 
 Hannah Armstrong.. 
 
 M 
 
 5 U 
 
 3 
 
 / 
 
 Q 
 
 B 
 
 Sarah Coval 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jesse Rundel 
 
 
 oc 
 
 T r* 
 
 9 
 
 T n 
 
 H 
 
 Anna Rundell 
 
 M 
 
 Z 5 
 
 2 5 
 
 
 H 
 
 Monmouth Purdy 
 
 
 CO 
 
 rn 
 
 
 n 
 
 Betsey Weddle 
 
 
 3 U 
 
 or; 
 
 :> u 
 
 O f 
 
 I 2 
 
 P, 
 
 David Downing 
 
 
 ^3 
 CO 
 
 -3 
 fp, 
 
 13 
 
 T | 
 
 ]3 
 
 Deentah Downing , 
 
 M 
 
 3 U 
 
 D 
 
 : 4 
 
 p. 
 
 Phrebe Cooper 
 
 
 2C 
 
 1 r 
 
 T !) 
 
 Tfi 
 
 p, 
 
 Polly Seabury, 
 
 s 
 
 ^3 
 
 -0 
 
 
 p. 
 
 Catharine Bogart 
 
 Q 
 
 2C 
 
 7 C 
 
 T / 
 
 T 
 
 p. 
 
 Mary Covel, 
 
 
 ^3 
 
 -5 
 
 
 
 Thirzy Armstrong. 
 
 
 T ? 
 
 * * 
 
 IC J 
 
 u 
 
 Peter G. Palen 
 
 
 cn 
 
 * * 
 
 zo 
 
 
 Margaret Palen 
 
 
 3 U 
 
 * * 
 
 2 I 
 
 "I O 
 
 ]] 
 
 Lemuel Conklin... 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 p. 
 
 Mary Conklin 
 
 
 
 
 2 3 
 
 p. 
 
 Pesfgv Place. 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 2 4 
 
 T> 
 
 William Weaver.. 
 
 c 
 
 T "> 
 
 T -7 
 
 2 i 
 
 >> 
 
 T> 
 
 Jas. McBride 
 
 c 
 
 o c 
 
 T O 
 
 2(> 
 
 P, 
 
 Nathan Smith 
 
 Q 
 
 Z 5 
 
 T 9 
 
 ^ r 
 
 -/ 
 ~<v 
 
 P. 
 
 Robert Relay 
 
 
 
 -1) 
 
 
 T> 
 
 Mrs. Relay 
 
 
 
 T O 
 
 2>j 
 
 P. 
 
 Joanna Seabury 
 
 Q 
 
 
 
 O u 
 
 
 Elijah Giles 
 
 
 
 
 O 1 
 
 O 
 
 ]^ 
 
 John Tompkins 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 3 2 
 
 1>. 
 
 Elijah Thacker 
 
 
 00 
 
 
 JO 
 
 p. 
 
 Huldah Tice 
 
 
 O^ 5 
 
 
 o4 
 
 n 
 
 Robert Dixon 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 35 
 ,2 
 
 ]>. 
 
 Betsey Dixon 
 
 
 3 U 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 Morgan 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 5> 
 
 -, ^ 
 
 l> 
 
 Morgan 
 
 
 5 
 
 7 C 
 
 
 j^ 
 
 
 Phcebe Titus, (colored) 
 
 
 2 5 
 
 
 
 
 Countes Tabor 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jane Tabor 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lacy Sloan 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Penitence Crook.. 
 
 

 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 63 
 
 Following this first class paper is the next original class 
 paper, now in possession of the writer, date 1813, Moses 
 Armstrong, leader, endorsed as follows : " The Friday be- 
 fore each quarterly meeting is a day of fasting and prayer, 
 by order of Discipline.'' 
 
 Signed, WM. ANSON, 
 
 MARVIN RICHARDSON, 
 COLES CARPENTER, 
 
 Preachers. 
 
 Fifty-two members on second paper.
 
 Protestant Churches in Poughkeepsie, 
 and their Unity. 
 
 This feature is marked and prominent. It would be dif- 
 ficult to conceive a more harmonious religious community 
 than this. Though of different names and creeds, their 
 differences are not a bar to their Christian fellowship and 
 harmonious working. If there be strife among them, it is, 
 which shall do most for God and the salvation of the people. 
 Not a gathering of any creed or sect, on any public occa- 
 sion, but you may witness on the platform of speakers, 
 representatives of all the Orthodox churches. " Their fears, 
 their hopes, their aims, are one." Three of their present 
 pastors have celebrated each, their twenty-fifth anniversary 
 of pastoral service. Rev. Dr. Wheeler, eight years since, 
 and is now in the thirty-third year of his pastorate. Doct. 
 Van Gieson and Dr. Crary the present autumn ; very long 
 pastorates are the exception to the rule. Doct. Cuyler, a 
 pastor long years agone, served the First Reformed Church, 
 within two weeks of twenty-five years.
 
 Summary of Churches. 
 
 The Reformed Church is the oldest ecclesiastical or- 
 ganization in Poughkeepsie, dating back to 1716. It was 
 endowed by the Colonial Government with rich gifts of 
 land. 
 The first minister was Cornelius Van Schie, 
 
 his ministry dating 1731 to 1 734 
 
 Following was Benjamin Mencrina I 745 " ! 755 
 
 Jacobus Van Nist 1758 " 1761 
 
 Henricus Schoonmaker 1763 " 1774 
 
 Isaac Risdyke 1765 " 1772 
 
 Stephen Van Voorhes 1773 " 1776 
 
 Solomon Fraleigh 1776 " 1780 
 
 John H. Livingston 1781 " 1783 
 
 Andrew Grey 1 790 " 1 793 
 
 Cornelius Broweva 1 794 " 1807 
 
 Cornelius C. Cuyler 1808 " 1833 
 
 Samuel A. Van Nnanklie 1834 " 1837 
 
 Alexander M. Mann. 1837 " l8 57 
 
 George H. McEckron 1858 " 1866 
 
 A. P. Van Geison 1867 " 1892 
 
 His 25th anniversary was celebrated Sabbath, October 
 1 6, 1892. The church reports 528 members, and a pros- 
 perous Sabbath-school. 
 
 The Second Reformed Church was organized in 1847. 
 This church was dedicated in 1849. 
 
 The succession of pastors is as follows : 
 
 Rev. Charles Whitehead ' 1849 to 1852 
 
 Charles S. Hegeman, D.D 1852 " 1871 
 
 Joachim Elmendorf, D.D 1872 " 1886 
 
 F. A. M. Brown, D.D 1887 " 1889 
 
 Rev. Wm. Bancroft Hill, installed pastor. 1890 
 
 Present Membership 321 
 
 Sabbath School Scholars. 121 
 
 By this record the Reformed Churches have had over 
 130 years of settled ministry in Poughkeepsie.
 
 66 Methodism in Poiighkeepsie. 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in 1766. 
 Services were held as far back as 1750. The parish receiv- 
 ed charter, 1773, from George III. The first church was 
 built in 1774. 
 
 The succession of rectors, as follows : 
 
 John Beardsley 1 766 to 1 777 
 
 Henry Van Dyke 1 7%7 " I 79 l 
 
 George H. Spieren 1 79 2 " ! 795 
 
 John M. Sayres. 1796 " 1798 
 
 Philander Chase 1799 " 1805 
 
 Bazzillai Bulkley 1806 " 1809 
 
 Joseph Bentice 1810 6 months. 
 
 John Reed, D.D 1810 to 1845 
 
 Homer Wheaton 1846 " 1847 
 
 Samuel Beuel, D.D 1847 " 1866 
 
 Philander K. Cady, D.D 1866^ " 1874 
 
 Henry L. Zeigenfuss, D.D., arch-dea- 
 con and present rector 1874 
 
 The Holy Comforter Church was organized in 1860. 
 
 The succession of rectors, as follows : 
 
 John Scarborough, D.D 1 860 to 1 867 
 
 B. F. Crary, present rector 1867 
 
 The St. Paul's Church was organized in 1835. 
 
 The succession of rectors, as follows : 
 
 T. W. Hatch 1836 to 1842 
 
 Philip E. Milledolen 1843 " 1845 
 
 Albert D. Traver, D.D 1845 " 1866 
 
 Stephen R. Synnot 1866 " 1885 
 
 Frank Heartfield, present rector. 1885 
 
 Communicants of the Christ's Church. 500 
 
 " " Holy Comforter Church 394 
 
 St. Paul's Church 348 
 
 The Presbyterian Church was started in 1762 and re- 
 organized in 1826. In 1826 Rev. Alonzo Welton was 
 installed pastor, followed by Reverends Page, Eaton and 
 Ludlow, whose united pastorates count 25 years and 1 1 
 months. The present pastor, Doct. Wheeler, was settled 
 here in 1859, an< ^ * s now m tne 33^ year of his pastorate, 
 the " oldest effective minister " in this city. His has been a
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 67 
 
 pastorate of marked and rare success. Their present 
 membership is 471, and a very large and flourishing 
 Sabbath-school. 
 
 The Orthodox Friends had an early beginning and now 
 count 1 80 members, a large attendance. 
 
 The Hicksite Friends statedly meet in Lafayette Place. 
 
 The Baptist Church was organized 1807. Their first 
 pastor was Rev. Francis Wayland, then followed Rev. 
 Lewis Leonard, Rev. Dr. Babcock, Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, 
 Rev. Wm. Vanloon, Rev. W. O. Holman, Rev. Loomis, 
 J. B. Brocket, Rev. W. H. Wines, pastor nine years ; Rev. 
 Roland D. Grant, H. B. Groce. The last five years, Rev. 
 Ransom Harvey. Present membership, 543. 
 
 The Congregational Church, an offshoot of the Presby- 
 terian, was^organized in 1837. The Rev. Wayland Spauld- 
 ing is now pastor. Installed in 1884. 
 
 Succession of Pastors : 
 
 Rev. A. Underwood from 1837 to 1844. 
 
 " Levi F. Waldo " 1844 to 1854. 
 
 " C. D. Rice. " 1855 to 1860. 
 
 " Moses C. Tyler. " 1861 to 1862. 
 
 " J. L. Corning " 1863 to 1868. 
 
 " Henry Loomis " 1869 to 1871. 
 
 " J. Beecher , " 1871 to 1875. 
 
 " Edward Lawrence, " 1875 to 1883. 
 
 Present membership, 290. 
 
 The Jewish Synagogue, corner Vassar and Mill, was or- 
 ganized in 1845. 
 
 The German Lutheran, Grand near Union. 
 
 The Roman Catholics have three churches. 
 
 The Methodists now have five churches, including Zion 
 M. E. Church, at 102 Catharine street. Founded in 1840. 
 Remodeled 1890. The others as follows: 
 
 Washington street, the mother church ; Trinity, formerly 
 Cannon street; Hedding, in South Clover street; German, 
 Bridge street, Rev. J. Lutz, Jr., present pastor. 
 
 Their aggregate membership is two thousand, with one 
 thousand children in their sabbath schools,
 
 The Church and our Obligations. 
 
 What is a church, or what is the true Holy Catho- 
 lic church of our Lord Jesus Christ ? 
 
 It is quoted in the discipline of the M. E. Church, 
 "The visible church of Christ is a congregation of 
 faithful men in which the pure word of God is 
 preached and the sacraments duly administered, ac- 
 cording to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that 
 of necessity are requisite to the same." In an ordi- 
 nary Ecclesiastical sense, the membership, composing 
 a religious body. " No one form of church organiza- 
 tion can be determined as absolutely right, so that all 
 others are absolutely wrong." It may be one body, or 
 many, without denominational distinction, or as a 
 body of whom Christ is the sole head, subordinated 
 or subdivided into sects or parties, as we find in our 
 communities, known as Presbyterian, Baptist, Metho- 
 dist, &c., nominal distinctions of sect or party. An 
 essential characteristic of all such, being " Supreme 
 love to our Lord Jesus Christ." The head and author 
 of the true church is Christ. Col. 1:18. And He 
 (Christ), is the head of the body, the church, who is 
 the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all 
 things he might have the preeminence. 
 
 In Eph. 5:23, it is also written, Christ also loved 
 the church and gave himself for it, (ve. 26), that he 
 might sanctify and cleanse it, &c., present (ve. 27), it 
 to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or 
 wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it should be 
 Holy and without blemish. 
 
 The church of our Lord Jesus Christ is made up of 
 an individual membership, of those who acknowledge
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 69 
 
 Christ as the " Supreme head," and none other, " the 
 chief corner stone" and none other ; of those who form 
 a voluntary alliance with Christ, accepting Christ in 
 all his offices of " Prophet," " Priest," and " King." 
 
 This alliance with Christ involves personal conse- 
 cration to Him of all we have and are, a union with 
 Christ, after the "similitude of the branch and the 
 vine," " a life hid, with Christ, in God," which is not 
 even broken by death, but involves a transfer to the 
 " invisible " church, " the church triumphant." If 
 our view be correct herein is implied and expressed 
 a " union " between the head of the church and its 
 members. It will be clearly and readily seen, that 
 " union with the church " is not a mere assent of the 
 will to have a name recorded on its records. In this 
 there might be a name to live, i. e., kept in remem- 
 brance, and the spiritual life be wanting, which would 
 be a false representation, a species of hypocrisy, 
 *' Christ condemned." " Non-conformity " to the 
 world is an essential characteristic of church member- 
 ship. "Ye are not of the world " said Christ, "I have 
 chosen you out of the world," and again '\ Be not con- 
 formed to this world." 
 
 But why join the church ? 
 
 ist, Because Christ's true followers are commanded 
 to confess Him before men. Mat. 10:32. It has 
 been well said, " a Christian community was not an 
 accident of Christ's ministry, nor an arbitrary institu- 
 tution ; it was a necessity ! " Christ said, " follow me." 
 He who obeyed must needs follow in company. 
 
 The multitude converted at Pentecost are declared 
 to be " added to the church," and the apostles always 
 acted on this assumption. If, then, Christ instituted 
 a church a body of believers, if this organization is the 
 object of his peculiar love and care, is it not manifest, 
 that a true regard for Christ binds "us" no less than
 
 /O Methodism in Poughkcepsie. 
 
 those of apostolic days, to confess Him through the 
 same medium, and to honor what He so loved? 
 
 The assumption often made that " I have no need 
 of the Church ; can do as much good outside as in 
 it" is vain and futile. 
 
 Would you say if you owned a plant of rare excel- 
 lence and value, that it would thrive as well outside 
 the vineyard, on barren waste, as in the richly culti- 
 vated garden and under the watchful care of a skillful 
 florist. 
 
 Would you thrust your child outside your home 
 without a father's counsel or a mother's loving care, 
 and expect from that "waif" all the virtues of noble 
 manhood and grand successes of the noblest and best 
 instructors ? 
 
 The care, the culture, protection of the church are 
 indispensable where the opportunity is ours. The 
 church might do without you, but what can you do 
 ignoring the church ? 
 
 Would you develop as a true Christian in all the 
 graces of a Christian manhood, would you ''shine as a 
 light in the world?" or be as a "tree planted by the 
 rivers of water ?" if so, then live hard by God's altars 
 and let the church of God be your abiding place, the 
 home of your youth, your field of earnest, diligent 
 toil in your stern manhood, your rest, sweet rest, in 
 time of old age. 
 
 But you say churches differ in their creed, and how 
 shall I best determine which church to join. 
 
 This is a matter often difficult to decide. There are 
 so many different relations, circumstances, conditions, 
 meeting one just at this point, that you will often 
 hesitate. 
 
 I cannot suggest just where your steps should al- 
 ways lead you. Let it suffice to say, in a matter of 
 such grave importance, that, any and all " worldly
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 71 
 
 conditions " should be subordinate. The issue you 
 realize, or ought to do, is an "eternal one." Hence, 
 you should recognize as far as possible : the purest 
 doctrine of God's word to be " believed " an essential 
 characteristic of every true church ; the greatest 
 helps to advancement in " the Divine life" consider- 
 ing the church a "nursery," and preeminent in your 
 consideration ; " the field " you are about to enter, 
 where you can do most for God, your own soul, and 
 the church. 
 
 In church relationship you are not only seeking 
 your own but Christ's. Where are you best fitted ; 
 in what field for an abundant harvest ? 
 
 You will not then be swayed by earthly companion- 
 ship, or by a popular church, speaking after the manner 
 of the world ; or by the greatest liberty a church may 
 accord you in a round of fashion and worldly pleasure. 
 Such motives should be a bar to your joining any 
 church, and show at least your unfitness so to do. 
 
 This joining a church is one of the grand and im- 
 portant steps in becoming a disciple of Christ. It is 
 not impossible that just at the threshold of your 
 church relation there may be need " of a severing a 
 right hand," or the " plucking of a right eye," but if 
 so the recompense is ample. 
 
 It is enough for you when the Master says " Follow 
 me," to go forward at all hazards, seeking earnestly 
 Divine guidance in matters of relation, companion- 
 ship, doing or not doing, doctrines, usages, helps and 
 hindrances ; let all these be a question between God 
 and your own soul, and for the soul's best good. 
 
 If it is a question when ? as well as where ? " Work 
 while the .day lasts ! " 
 
 " The mill can never grind, 
 With the water that is past." 
 
 Ask of God "what wilt thou have me -to do?"
 
 72 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 And here we bid you God speed. " Have a con- 
 science void of offence toward God and toward man." 
 
 " Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do 
 it to the glory of God ! "
 
 How They Died ! 
 
 A question of no little interest may arise, how did 
 these noble men, and early toilers die ? We do not 
 mean to intimate that in other churches they do not 
 die as well, but we express the fact of a happy and 
 very close analogy between their experience in life 
 and in death ! Triumphant ! 
 
 ELIJAH HEDDING, D.D. 
 
 Elijah Hedding, D.D., one of the most eminent 
 and laborious bishops that the church has known ; for 
 many years a resident of Poughkeepsie, and who died 
 here, experienced a severe attack of disease December 
 28, 1850. 
 
 In the afternoon of the first attack, after the severi- 
 ty of his distress had subsided, he said to Rev. L. M. 
 Vincent, " I expected to die this afternoon. I fully 
 believed the hour of my departure had come, but oh ! 
 how mercifully I was sustained. I had no fear of 
 death, or eternity. I felt that through the merits of 
 of Jesus, my Saviour, alone, it would be well with 
 me, and knew if my work was done and God ordered 
 my discharge, it was right, all right." 
 
 After his second attack, he said : " In all this, the 
 enemy was not permitted to come nigh me." On the 
 7th of May, 1851, he made the following record by 
 the assistance of an amanuensis. " I have now been 
 confined by affliction more than four months. I have 
 realized the truth of that wonderful word, ' My 
 grace shall be sufficient for thee.' When the storm 
 first burst upon me, and the wind howled, the waves 
 roared, the surges beat upon my head, and the deep 
 yawned, Nature said, a shattered ruined wreck, you
 
 74 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 are ; the proud waters will soon come over you ! 
 But by faith, I saw Jesus walking on the water and 
 heard him say, ' It is I, be not afraid,' and my soul 
 replied, ' Behold God is my Salvation,' 'I will trust 
 and not be afraid.' ' 
 
 A short time previous to his death several brethren 
 met with him to partake of the Holy Eucharist He 
 was deeply affected, and then said, " Brethren, my 
 work is done on earth ; I am about to go hence ; but 
 I have a good hope, that my soul will go to God in 
 Heaven. I depend on Christ, and feel that he accepts 
 me. I have ,no doubt of it. I am as conscious of it 
 as I can possibly be of any thing." 
 
 March 3ist, after extreme suffering, he said, " I 
 have been wonderfully blest. I have served God 
 more than 50 years. I have generally had peace, but 
 I never saw such glory before, such light. Such 
 clearness such beauty. Oh, what glory I feel ; it 
 shines and burns all through me ! it came upon me 
 like the rushing of a mighty wind, as on the day of 
 Pentecost." 
 
 In his death struggle he said, " I trust in God and 
 feel safe." His last words were : "I am happy ; 
 filled ! " Who would not like such a translation ? 
 
 MARVIN RICHARDSON. 
 
 Another of those early heroes in Methodism, one 
 who shared the honors of early and successful work ; 
 and who lived to see the success of Methodism in all 
 the region round about. 
 
 In 1808, in his iQth year, he commenced preaching, 
 and for forty-two successive years, was an effective 
 minister. He was 14 years on circuits, 13 years in 
 stations and 15 years as presiding elder on districts. 
 
 For about five months previous to his death he was 
 confined to his room and bed, suffering wearisome
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 75 
 
 days and nights, with never a single word of com- 
 plaint or murmur. 
 
 During all these months his hope in God was as an 
 anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. His religious 
 experience was not often exultant, but calm, sweet, 
 abiding. He rested ; rested in Christ, and on Christ. 
 He was often uttering those poetic words : 
 
 " Other refuge have I none, 
 
 Hangs my helpless soul on thee." 
 
 Often when tempted by the adversary he would 
 say, " Jesus has kept me so long, he never will for- 
 sake me in a dying hour." Nor did he. 
 
 To the last, his feet were on the Rock. The day 
 prior to his death, in response to the inquiry of a 
 brother, " if all was bright beyond," he with great 
 exertion, and marked emphasis, exclaimed, " Yes, all 
 bright ! all bright ! Glory be to God ! I have no 
 fear." The gates of the city of God opened to him, 
 he was all ready, and more than willing to enter in. 
 
 Death came to him, not as a " Chariot of Fire," 
 bearing him away in majesty and impressiveness, but 
 as the quiet infolding of unseen wings ; no less divine, 
 because so noiseless and gentle. One more herald of 
 the Cross heard the Master's welcoming, " Well 
 done ! " and passed in triumph Home to God. 
 
 FREEBORN GARRETTSON. 
 
 A pioneer of Methodism in Dutchess Counnty as 
 well as elsewhere, died in complete triumph, Septem- 
 ber 26, 1827, in the 76th year of his age, and the 52d 
 year of ministry. He formed the First Methodist 
 Class in this city in 1805. 
 
 Preceding his death was a brief sickness of intense 
 physical suffering, during which, his sky was without 
 a cloud. 
 
 In every hour his soul was exultant, and he would 
 say frequently, " I want to be with Jesus." " I want
 
 j6 .Methodism in Poughkeepste. 
 
 to go Home." The nearer the approach of death, 
 the happier he grew ; and his last words spoken even 
 in death, were " Holy," " Holy," " Holy," " Lord 
 God Almighty," " Hallelujah," " Hallelujah." 
 
 CHARLES W. CARPENTER. 
 
 And what is true of Charles W. Carpenter, an 
 honored minister of Christ, a pastor in Washington 
 Street Church and the organizer of the Cannon Street 
 M. E. Church ? 
 
 On one occasion speaking of his conversion he said, 
 (and he often said it,) " In the afternoon, while- en- 
 gaged in private (the very spot I well remember), I 
 poured out my soul to God in prayer. I felt a 
 sudden and glorious change of my feelings. My 
 burden was fully removed. My soul was filled with 
 inexpressible peace, and I arose from a suppliant 
 position, not doubting but God for Christ's sake had 
 pardoned all my sins." 
 
 How these Methodist ministers of olden time, spake 
 of the knowledge of sin forgiven, and the witness of 
 the Holy Spirit to their pardon and acceptance with 
 God. 
 
 Charles Carpenter's theme, " Life Long," was 
 redemption in the blood of the Lamb, a present and 
 full salvation. It was his passport to the skies. 
 
 GEORGE COLES. . 
 
 Once a pastor in Washington Street Church, physi- 
 cally a feeble man for many years ; and often 
 " through fear of death, subject to bondage." The 
 last entry made in his diary, faithfully kept, was 
 ' ' Death does not seem so dreadful as formerly. " As the 
 hour of his departure approached he obtained through 
 grace a complete triumph over this and every other 
 fear, and longed for release ! The last word he utter- 
 ed when dying was " Hark ! " as if some heavenly voice 
 saluted him.
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 77 
 
 BENJAMIN GRIFFIN. 
 
 Another Poughkeepsie pastor. Just before his 
 death he called his wife and said, my dear, "/ ant 
 going." Where ? she inquired ! " To Heaven ! " was 
 the quick response ! " I am going up, up to be for- 
 ever with the Lord, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halle- 
 luiah ! " When he could no longer speak, on being 
 asked for a signal," he raised first his right hand, and 
 then both hands in token of victory, and fell on sleep. 
 
 WILLIAM THACHER, 
 
 As he approached the close of his pilgrimage en- 
 joyed a holy triumph. In his severest agonies, he 
 shouted, " Glory to God, I am happy in Jesus." 
 " Jesus is so lovely to my poor soul. A sinner saved 
 by grace." He died in full assurance of a blessed 
 immortality. 
 
 PETER P. SANDFORD. 
 
 One of the noblest divines in our church, in the 
 century which he lived. He died as good men die, 
 calm, confident, and assured of everlasting glory. 
 His dying testimony was, " I have prayed for a holy 
 triumph, and I have it." 
 
 GEORGE S. HARE. 
 
 He had no fear of death. When dying and sup 
 posed to be past consciousness, he exclaimed with 
 emphasis, " Bless the Lord, oh, my soul, and all that 
 is within me, bless his holy name." 
 
 Some of the loved ministers of Washington Street 
 Church were not privileged to give a dying testimony 
 by reason of accidental death, or by a sudden stroke 
 that deprived of speech and life at the same moment. 
 
 Instance our beloved, W. H. Ferris, who was found 
 dead in his bed, his wife beside him, not even she 
 conscious of his departure.
 
 78 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 And the lamented " North " crushed beneath the 
 ponderous wheels of a locomotive, not able to utter 
 his own name. 
 
 And there was King, Brown, McLelland, and 
 Hatfield : the testimony of their victory was in their 
 lives. Good and holy men, who wrought righteous- 
 ness and surely exchanged earth for Heaven. 
 
 Our men die right ! " God buries his workmen, 
 and carries on his work." 
 
 There was Foss, Chalker, Prentice, once pastors in 
 Cannon Street Church. 
 
 There was Wakely, Culver, Fitch, King, and W. C. 
 Smith, once pastors in Hedding Church. 
 
 " Servants of God well done ! 
 
 Thy glorious warfare's past : 
 The battle's fought, the race is won, 
 And thou art crowned at last ! " 
 
 In reviewing the past history of Methodism we are 
 not a Uttle surprised at its successes. 
 
 In 1780, the whole territory of the United States 
 reported one annual conference, 49 preachers, and 
 8,000 members. 
 
 Passing on to 1805, we group together the first 
 class, formed by Freeborn Garrettson in Duncomb's 
 garret, of five members, the whole of Poughkeepsie 
 Methodism. In 1892, Methodism counts fully 2,000 
 communicants in Poughkeepsie. 
 
 Looking over a large field we count in 1892 in the 
 United States, and including our foreign missions, 
 131 annual conferences. 
 
 Ministers, Traveling and Local 60,272 
 
 Members and Probationers, i ith Census. . .4,756,297 
 
 Sunday Schools. 54,202 
 
 Officers and Teachers 605,379 
 
 Scholars 4,609,336
 
 Methodism in Poughkeepsie. 79 
 
 Churches 46,629 
 
 Parsonages : 7>353 
 
 Estimated Value $227,122,632 
 
 The census of 1891 reports the World's Methodist 
 Family as 16,960,000 members. 
 
 What hath God wrought !
 
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