prized, the session feels called upon at this time to recognize the faithfulness with which he served the church and to pay a tribute to his memory. Therefore be it "Resolved, That in the removal of our Senior Elder, M. D. Loper, from the scenes of his earthly activity our church has lost a most faithful servant, the cause of Christ a valiant champion and the community at large a valuable citizen. "For forty years he has stood in the front ranks of our church workers, his whole life bound up in the welfare of the church militant, a firm defender of 'the faith once delivered to the saints.' Through this devotion to the cause of Christ we feel it can be said of him as of one of old, 'He being dead yet speaketh.' In 1858 Elder Loper was married to Mary S. Horton, who survives him. They were blessed with three sons, all of whom grew to manhood and are still living. Archibald R. Havens was the twelfth person selected as Elder, being chosen April 23, 1865, and ordained by the Rev. Mr. Harries on the following 11th of June. Mr. Havens was born on this island Oct. 9th, 1816, to Obadiah and Nancy (Robinson) Havens. On May 20th, 1849, he united with the church, and continued as a member until his death, Nov. 20th, 1894, a period of forty-five years. Concerning him it is the universal testimony of those who knew him that you cannot say too much about his noble Christian character. He was a model among men, always looked up to and highly esteemed, implicitly trusted, a saint on earth. One who ever had a word for Jesus. Carrying on a country store, he would follow his customers to the door to drop a word concerning the Savior and His dying love for men. He was indeed a remarkable man. Faithful in attendance upon the state means of grace of the sanctuary and ever ready to testify for Jesus. He cherished the words and oft repeated them that "They that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord and that thought on His name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." He was constantly encouraging others into the Kingdom, and was instrumental in cheering at least one soul on to the Savior who is now an honored Elder of this church. How many such jewels are set in his immortal crown we cannot at present tell, but shall know some day, "When the mists have rolled in splendor from the beauty of the hills, And the sunlight falls in gladness on the river and the rills, And we come with joy and gladness up to the great white throne, Face to face with those that love us, then we'll know as we are known." Though full of cares at times yet never a word of discouragement did he utter. He dwelt upon the innumerable promises of the Most High. They were to him as a sweet morsel rolled under the tongue. Like one of old, he esteemed the Word of God more than his necessary food. And as he lay upon his bed in his last illness in a state of coma those that sat beside him heard him repeating those everlasting and abiding promises upon which his soul was fixed. They were his comfort in the death valley. His parting words, repeated a number of times, were "I'm going home, I'm going home," and his spirit left its earthly tabernacle to occupy the "building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Mr. Havens was postmaster of Shelter Island for nearly fifty years, one of the longest terms of office on record in the Postal Department of these United States. In 1839 he married Miss Caroline A. Hughes, by whom he had six children. Our thirteenth elder, chosen and ordained with Elder Havens in 1865, was Horace G. Manwaring, the son of Elder Horace B. and Nancy (Havens) Manwaring, born on Nov. 21, 1838, and died Sept. 18, 1883. He continued as an elder of this church about three years, when he moved to Westfield, Mass. During his short term as Elder of this church he served with great credit, being a young man of good parts and ability. It was therefore with sorrow and reluctance that the church parted with this young servant when Providence removed him to another place. He died at the early age of forty-five years. On Dec. 7, 1872, the church elected its fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth elders in the persons of Benjamin C. Cartwright, Timothy P. Congdon and Smith Baldwin. These three were ordained on Jan. 12, 1873, by the Rev. Mr. Harries, who devoted the entire service that Sabbath morning to the consideration of the office of elder and its duties. The first of the three above mentioned brethren was the last to leave this earth, the order of their departure being just the reverse of their selection. Benjamin C. Cartwright, our fourteenth elder, was a native of Shelter Island, born May 13th, 1815, of George and Lucretia (Conkling) Cartwright. He passed triumphantly away on Dec. 11th, 1896, in his eighty-second year. For more than fifty years he was a conspicuous member of this church. All who knew him honored him. In early life he followed the sea, making a number of voyages in a whaler. In this profession he early attained a position of responsibility, becoming commander of the ship. Here his life was conspicuous for at least one thing, namely, he never resorted to the use of oaths or profane language of any kind, so general a custom among seamen, His mouth was clean; no corrupt communication proceeded from between his lips. After retiring from the pursuit of the whale he established himself in business of various kinds in turn on this island. Soon his services were called upon in town affairs and he was chosen to public office. And nearly to the time of his death did he continue in office, serving the town in almost every capacity, among them as Supervisor, for thirteen years. He was a man who stood firm for his principles, never compromising with evil but always true to his God. He could no more be turned by bribery or intimidation from what he esteemed to be right than you could turn the sun from out its course. He illustrated in all its truth the saying, now a maxim, "An honest man is the noblest work of God." Would that all the men of our community were of his noble, faithful spirit! Never did his pastor want for an attentive, inspiring listener so long as he remained with the church militant. One had but to turn his eye in his direction when it would be cheered by his encouraging countenance. And the warm grasp of the hand at the close of the service was a silent "God bless you, my pastor," that cannot easily be forgotten. That hand was constantly extended in doing good. He was the poor man's friend. His generous soul led him to sacrifice himself for the welfare of others. "He went about doing good," and when he came to leave this earth God took care that this devoted servant should have one of the sweetest departures ever granted to mortal man. It was the nearest approach to Enoch's translation that has ever come under our notice. "He walked with God, and was not for God took him." Conscious almost to the very last moment, speaking with the loved ones around his dying bed, telling his children of the happy meeting with mother who had gone on some eight years before, and in all confidence of his being brought into the desired haven, his final words were "Safe into port." Then he closed his eyes in that sleep which knows no waking here but which is the sweetest of all sleeps, a repose upon the breast of Jesus, and devout men carried him to his burial as they carried Stephen, and made great lamentations over him because "a prince and a great man had fallen in Israel." As a tribute to his memory the following resolutions were spread upon the sessional minutes: "Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father to take from among us, in the person of Elder Benjamin C. Cartwright, a brother in the Lord, whose fidelity through an unusually long term of service entitled him to be considered by his fellow men as holding a first place among those who love our Lord and strove to do His will. Therefore be it "Resolved, That by the removal of Elder Cartwright from the scenes of his earthly labors the Presbyterian Church of Shelter Island loses an honorable member, a faithful servant and an efficient officer, one deeply interested in all that concerned the church, both in spiritual and temporal lines, well fitted for service in the former by his simple faith, his hopeful courage and his charitable judgment of others; and for the latter by his natural ability, the experience gained in a long business career and the open-handed liberality with which he responded to all appeals made for the needs of the church. "Resolved, That we extend our sympathy to the bereaved family of our departed brother with the assurance that we share their sorrow in the loss of a beloved father and a faithful and wise counsellor, consoled, however, by the knowledge that while we miss his familiar form from among us his life remains among us and that we can apply to him that most glorious testimony received from heaven, 'Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them."" Brother Cartwright was married in 1838 to Hannah Maria Tuthill, and unto them were born ten children. Two of his sons were in time chosen by the church as elders. He was most happy in his domestic relations, surrounded as he was by a large family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, all devotedly attached to this dear old servant of God, this grand old man. "Servant of God, well done! Rest from thy loved employ; Soldier of Christ, well done! Mr. Timothy P. Congdon was the fifteenth elder chosen by this church. Early in life he surrendered himself into the hands of the Savior with the purpose to be his as long as life should last, and this vow he kept religiously until his death Jan. 6th, 1888. At the age |