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AN ACCOUNT OF MONIES SUBSCRIBED BY THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK AND ELSEWHERE, AS A DONATION TOWARDS BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE ON SHELTER ISLAND.

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

PLACE OF ABODE. AMOUNT.

Henry Rutgers..

Desire Havens

Mary C. L'Hommedieu.

Rensselaer Havens....

David Gelston...

H. A. and J. G. Castor..

Jone Kane..

John Adams.

Philetus Havens..

Gabriel Havens.

Nathaniel Richards..

Thomas H. Smith.

Walter Bowne..

Henry Eckford

John Mowatt, Jr

James Lovett..

Edward H. Nicoll..

Edmund Smith.
Abraham Riker.

Najah Taylor....
William Edgar
Grover Wright..
Eliphalit Williams..
A. H. Lawrence.
N. L. Griswold.
George Griswold.

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In less than three months from the date of the foregoing subscription paper all this had been gathered together. The Trustees, judging that a sufficient sum had been subscribed and collected to commence the building, gave public notice of a meeting of the society to be held in the school house on Friday, Dec. 8th, 1815, at 3 o'clock P. M. The meeting was held according to appointment, but that a more general attendance of the Society might be gained, adjourned without action for one week, or until Dec. 15th, at which time the Society, having made choice of William Bowditch as moderator and Sylvester Dering as clerk, passed the following resolutions: "Resolved, that the Meeting House to be erected shall be

built on the Land where the old Meeting House now stands. Resolved, that Sylvester Dering, William Bowditch, Samuel Lord, Jonathan Doughlass and Henry Conklin be a committee to receive. the monies subscribed for building said Meeting House from the hands of the Trustees, and to build the said Meeting House of such dimensions and materials as the Committee or a majority of them shall agree."

A few days after the subscription paper began to be circulated a violent storm swept over this island, something like a tornado, in those days called the "great September gale." This storm felled a large number of Shelter Island's most stately trees. Many of these belonged to Gen. Sylvester Dering, and these he generously donated to the Society for use in the proposed building. Out of them was hewn the massive timbers that form the enduring frame of our present building. "The stars," said the Rev. Mr. Harries, "the stars in their courses fought for them, and the fierce winds of heaven brought them the oaks of Bashan and the cedars of Lebanon." It is indeed an ill wind that blows nobody good. God encouraged the Society in its purpose to erect a new sanctuary for His praise in felling the necessary trees for its frame upon the estate of one whom He knew had His cause greatly at heart, and who would generously donate them for that purpose. The building committee having funds and material at hand went immediately to work, and in less than fifteen months the building was finished and ready for its furnishings. To do this an additional five hundred dollars was necessary, which the parish, at a meeting held March 14, 1817, unanimously authorized the trustees to borrow upon the note of the corporation.

During the year 1816, in which the building was under construction, a remarkable revival of religion was experienced on this island. Between forty and fifty persons were hopefully converted, or as the record notes it, "made to bow to the sceptre of Jesus." The origin of this work of grace began in the conversion of a husband and wife in the early part of the year 1815. These two persons were highly connected, and the marked change in their life greatly impressed the community with the power of religion. Soon a third person became seriously concerned about salvation and moved towards Christ. This deepened the impression upon the people and prepared the way for a monthly prayer meeting. This third person was a young woman whose conversion Dr. Woolworth speaks of

as remarkable. The summer came, bringing an increased interest in public worship. The work of the Lord continued to spread and prosper through the fall to such a degree that by the time Christmas had arrived the people, instead of spending the evenings of that week in festivity and mirth, as they were wont to do, they spent them in prayer and other religious exercises, which "most of the young people attended, and the meetings were solemn and marked with animating tokens of divine presence. Things remained much in this state until February, 1816 (I am now quoting from Dr. Woolworth's dedicatory sermon, preached in 1817), when the spirit of the Lord was poured out as on the day of Pentecost. The work commenced in the school-house (then under the charge of Mr. Samuel Phillips, a young man of ardent piety, and who subsequently became editor and proprietor of the 'Republican Watchman'). The mind of one of the scholars was so deeply impressed as to constrain him to cry out and request the teacher to pray for him. This disclosure soon discovered that the minds of many others were the subjects of very special religious impressions. The usual exercises of the school the rest of the day were suspended and the time devoted to prayer, reading the Scriptures and religious conversation. Persons in the immediate neighborhood came in and were deeply affected with what they witnessed. The dismission of the school at night carried the news of the wonderful things which had taken place into most of the families on the island. Much the same scenes were renewed the next day at the school-house. Many came to see and hear and were convinced that what they saw and heard was indeed the work of God. Deep solemnity rested upon the minds of almost all the inhabitants. Religious meetings were at first attended every day or evening and thronged by multitudes anxiously inquiring, 'What shall we do to be saved?' The revival thus begun continued in great power for months. The occasional preaching of the Word, which was now frequently enjoyed, and other public religious exercises, were attended with surprising effects. While scarcely an individual in the whole limits of the congregation could be found indifferent and secure, great numbers were the subjects of deep and distressing convictions, under the influence of which they were led to affecting discoveries of their lost estate in themselves the infinite evil of sin-the plague of their own hearts-their perishing need of an interest in Christ, and in order to this of being renewed by the power of divine grace in the spirit of their minds.

In this state of humiliation the mercy of God appeared for those who were brought out of darkness into marvellous light. The enmity of their hearts was slain, and their minds enlightened in the spiritual knowledge of God and divine things. The result of which was unfeigned submission and self-consecration to God, all issuing in repentance towards Him, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and that composure, peace and joy of mind which these divine graces and that standing in the new covenant which they ensure, never fail to inspire. Though the experience of individuals in circumstantial things was very different, in essentials there was a remarkable sameness. All embraced and rejoiced in the gospel as a system of free grace in all its parts, intended to humble the creature and exalt the glorious Creator. In the course of this revival as many as fifty obtained hope of such a reconciliation to God. Among these were not a few of the stout-hearted, and such as were indeed far from righteousness. But in this day of the mighty power and sovereign grace of God, they were made willing and brought to bow as loyal subjects to the sceptre of the Prince of Peace. The additions made to the church were between forty and fifty, and the more immediate fruits of this work of grace were a great external reformation, both moral and religious-the prevalence of a spirit of brotherly love-and a great increase of knowledge as to the peculiar and appropriate doctrines of the gospel." It was indeed a wonderful work of grace. Oh that it might be repeated in our day! In April of that year, namely, 1816, the Rev. Stephen Tracy, a Congregational minister, renewed his labors on this island, having preached here the previous year. On May 5th, after divine service at a parish meeting, he was engaged to preach for six months from April 28th. He arrived in the midst of the great revival, and is accredited with accomplishing two very important matters for this church. "One was the gathering into the church of the fruits of the great revival of the winter of 1816, and the other was the building of this sanctuary." Rev. Stephen Tracy was born in Norwich, Conn., in the year 1749. He graduated from Princeton College in 1770. The same year he began his ministry at Peru, Mass., where he was ordained in 1772. Here he remained until 1775. Became pastor at Norwich (now Huntington), Mass., May 23, 1781, and remained there until January 1st, 1799. After that he labored as a home missionary until his death, in 1822.

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