This page has been validated.

[ 103 ]

of whom were ministers, were children of this school. Jeremiah, Stephen, and John have each finished their work, and ere this I hope are with their beloved and honored father resting in peace; James, the youngest, is still alive and living in New York, a member of one of the New School Presbyteries in that city. Mr. Henry Wilson and Jonathan Gibbs, both pastors of churches, one in New York City, the other in Troy, State of N. Y., were both children of this school; and there are some now preaching in other denominations who were raised up and trained here. There is now at the Ashmun Institute, established by the New Castle Presbytery, and located in Oxford, West Chester County, Mr. Thomas Amos, a young man taken up by this church, and recommended to our Presbytery, who was received after examination, and is now prosecuting his studies with a view to the Gospel ministry. Surely, then, the old church is not without its interest and its history. What may be its future is with Him alone who sees from the beginning and knows the ending; it is but for the church to labor on in the good work of the Lord, that we review often the past and learn lessons of instruction to guide into the future; and amid all to look to Him who is head of His Church, and to Jesus, the author of faith, our Prophet, Priest, and King, to whom be glory in the Church forever.

Amen.

Note.—It may not be amiss for me to record, in connection with this history, some instances of pure benevolence shown this church. First, at the time when a claim for debt, said to be due to Mr. John Gloucester, the founder, was laid against the church, and the sheriff was about to execute a sale of the property to pay said claim, Mr. Chauncy, a gentleman of large benevolence, gave as a donation $700 to settle the debt, and this saved the property.