The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 199

support at once so earnest, forcible and persistent as to win to its support, not only his own society, but secured, so generally, the cooperation of the Presbytery of Cayuga and of the Synod, as to secure the object sought. The seminary was located and completed and between that institution and the First Presbyterian Society of Auburn, there has always existed the most intimate relations, resulting in reciprocal benefits. Most of the ample grounds and nearly one-half of the sum raised in the country for the erection of the first buildings, were contributed by members of this society.

Recently the same beneficent spirit led to the bestowal of $80,000 upon that institution as a condition of its retention in Auburn. This large gift to the seminary was added to the heavy burden then recently incurred in the erection of their magnificent church edifice the cost of which was $140,000. It is worthy of remark that this society has expended upon its church edifices and the seminary buildings and endowments about equal sums, aggregating the large amount of over $240,000, more than one-third of which has been contributed by two wealthy and liberal citizens. Sylvester Willard, M. D., and Theodore P. Case, Esq.

Rev. Josiah Hopkins, D. D., succeeded Dr. Lansing, and was installed September 28th, 1830. He continued until April 21st, 1846, fifteen years and eight months. The Church, under his ministry, greatly prospered and large accessions were made to it. He was aided at dfferent times by eminent evangelists; by Charles G. Finney, for six weeks, in the winter of 1831, the result of whose labors is said to have been over five hundred conversions; by Rev. Jedediah Burchard, in 1833, a theatrical and very eccentric preacher, who drew immense audiences, that came both from the city and country and the influence of whose labors were widely extended over the country; by Rev. Mr. Avery in 1838; and by Rev. Samuel G. Orton, in 1840.

Dr. Hopkins resigned April 21st, 1846, because of failing health, and Henry A. Nelson was installed July 29th, 1846, soon after his graduation from the Auburn Seminary, and continued in the pastorate for over ten years.

To succeed two such experienced and very able and eloquent men as Drs. Lansing and Hopkins, was certainly a very trying ordeal for a young minister; yet Mr. Nelson fully sustained himself by his talents and great industry, and ably and acceptably filled the responsible position until September 8th, 1856, when he accepted the call of an important church in St. Louis.

Rev. Charles Hawley, D. D., succeeded Mr. Nelson, November 5th, 1857, and still holds the position, having now served the congregation over twenty-one years.

The church has a peculiarly interesting history, embracing a period of about seventy years, over sixty years of which the society has been served by four pastors only, and for more than one-third of that long period it has been under the care of the present pastor. Whoever will compare this record with that of the other churches of the county as contained in this volume, will be forcibly impressed with the remarkable contrast.

The present officers of this church and society are as follows:

Pastor---Rev. Charles Hawley, D. D.

Elders---Richard Steel, Syulvester Willard, Israel F. Terrill, H. Woodruff, James Hyde, Ebenezer B. Jones, Franklin L. Griswold, Charles A. Lee, Mortimer L. Browne, James Seymour, Jr., William E. Hughitt, Richard H. Bloom.

Deacons--Eliphalet F. Putnam, H. Brooks, Chas. P. Williams*, Edward C. Selover, Richard S. Holmes, William H. Meaker.

Trustees--John S. Fowler, H. Woodruff, John Olmstead, Horace T. Cook, B. C. Smith, Edward C. Selover, Warren Crocker.

Communicants, 650, as reported May, 1878.

ST. PETER'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

--The following very interesting notes on the origin, progress and present state of this society is from the pen of its accomplished and respected rector, Rev. John Brainard, D. D.

It is now nearly three score and ten years since this parish was organized. For nearly all that time, its church, with its beautiful enclosure, has formed one of the objects of interest in this the "loveliest village" of the plain. Compared with religious establishments of the old world, or even with many in New England, its history may seem brief and uneventful, yet it extends back almost to the beginning of the settlement of this region by a band of men as noble and devoted as ever leveled the forest and tilled the soil of any

*Deceased January 14th, 1879.

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