TABLET INSCRIPTION. 225 REV. WILLIAM C. WHITE, BORN IN SANDISFIELD, MASS., JAN. 16, 1803; AT WILLIAMS COLLEGE IN 1826, AT PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN 1831; OVER THE FIRST CHURCH IN ORANGE, FEB. 13, 1833. In the labors of this charge he spent his entire strength. His love for the work drew into it all the powers of his mind, and the resources of his growing culture. A rare native sagacity joined with habitual study gave symmetry and strength to his discourses. Clothed with humility, he found his chief joy in the duties of Teacher, Pastor, Counsellor and Friend to his people. Beyond this sphere he sought neither influence nor place; within it, no rest nor relaxation. ON ACCOUNT OF FAILING HEALTH HE WAS THE CHAPTER VIII. FROM 1856 TO 1860. THE five pastorates through which we have followed the line of this history, illustrate the practicability of what we believe to have been a primitive idea of the pastoral relation, namely, permanency. The first continued at least twenty-five years. The second was closed by death at the end of fourteen years. The third was prolonged to thirty-four years. The fourth to thirty-one. The fifth to twenty-two. This makes an average length of a quarter of a century. With respect to the utility and expediency of such a continuity of ministerial labor in the same congregation, opinions differ. Many advantages are gained by it. A minister long settled is like a tree long planted and left undisturbed; he has had time to grow, and to take root in the hearts of his people. He is under the necessity of continuous study. He acquires a large local influence. He is more identified with the people, and is more secure against personal reac THE WRITER'S SETTLEMENT. 227 tions in the faithful discharge of his duties. Whether the disadvantages are equal, or greater, we shall not here discuss. The theory is one which enters into the constitution of the Presbyterian Church, though not now as closely followed as it once was. It was our intention to drop the pen with the office which it has now performed. The task is discharged for which it was chiefly taken; that of exploring a past believed to contain enough of memorable names and deeds to deserve such a labor. But the four years which have now nearly gone since the closing event of the last chapter, have too powerfully impressed their changes on the social and religious aspects of the town, to be left without some notice. Human enterprise has in that period accomplished much, and God has done still more. We shall therefore follow the thread of events a little farther, and notice briefly such existing features of our town as will be likely to interest the readers of another generation. It has been stated that the writer became pastor of the First Church, February 14, 1856. It was just a week after the death of his predecessor, and but four days after the gathering of the mournful assembly for the burial service. The happier emotions excited by the occasion were not a little softened by the sadder ones which had so recently prevailed. To add to the solemnities which death threw around the event, the demise of Judge 228 CHURCH OFFICERS. Stephen D. Day took place simultaneously with it, at the distance only of the street's width. He had been an influential and highly respected member of the church and the community. The following clergymen took part in the installation service. Rev. John Crowell, of the Second church, Orange, presided and put the constitutional questions. Rev. James M. Sherwood, of Bloomfield, preached a sermon from Matt. 13: 33. Rev. Daniel W. Poor and Rev. James P. Wilson, D. D., of Newark, delivered the respective charges to the pastor and the people. Rev. Robert W. Landis, of Paterson, who was moderator of the Presbytery, offered prayer. The elders of the church at this time were Josiah Frost, Ira Canfield, Jonathan S. Williams, Smith Williams, Cyrus Gildersleeve, and Charles R. Day. The deacons were Josiah Frost and Moses B. Canfield. By reason of his age and infirmities, especially hardness of hearing, Mr. Frost had ceased to take any active part in the affairs of the parish. Of his earlier contemporaries in office, Amos Vincent, (who resigned office in 1840,) Abraham Harrison, and Daniel D. Condit, had deceased. Samuel L. Pierson and Abiathar Harrison had left the place. Deacon Abraham Harrison had been a man of distinguished usefulness in the church, having in early life studied for the ministry and received license to preach. VIEW OF THE PARISH. 229 To the elders just named there were added in the following May, James Greacen, John Boynton, Ira Harrison and Dr. Stephen Wickes; of whom the first two had held the same office in Brooklyn, the last in Troy, N. Y. Erastus A. Graves and Cyrus S. Minor were at the same time added to the number of deacons. The two offices, which had so long been held together, were now separated, except in the person of the senior officer, Mr. Frost. The church had a membership of about two hundred and fifty, including those who had removed from the parish without a change of their church relations. The attendance upon the Sabbath services was from five to six hundred. About a hundred and seventy-five families were comprised in the parish, though not all of them regular attendants upon public worship. Of those who held seats in the sanctuary, a few were members of another denomination, or by habit and preference connected with it, who were waiting for a church of their own order to be organized in this part of the town. There was a prosperous Sabbath-school, with about a hundred and fifty pupils, under the superintendence of Mr. Charles M. Saxton. The course of religious services comprised a morning and afternoon preaching service on the Lord's day, one session of the Sabbath-school, a Sunday evening prayer-meeting, a Tuesday evening lecture, and a prayer-meeting sustained by Sunday-school teach |