A History of Suffern Presbyterian Church

By Pastor Allen Kemp, for the Centennial Celebration June 7-8, 2003

Thanks to Ken Kral for his labors in chronicling major events in our church's history and thanks to Gardner Watts, Rudy Wissler, and George Stoner for their previous written histories used as sources for this paper. Most of all thanks to all those clerks of Session who provided not just minutes of business transacted at meetings but information as to what God was doing in people's lives.

            On Thursday, January 2, 1902, by the authority of the Session of the Ramapo Presbyterian Church (in Hillburn, NY), a prayer meeting was established in Suffern in a small room over the Suffern National Bank. Mr. Rev. Rufus B. Marks, pastor of Ramapo Presbyterian Church, led the meeting; and at its close, those present, who numbered about twenty five persons, voted to continue the meeting on Thursday evenings at 7:45pm. It was continued, without break, thereafter; the Rev Marks led each week until a minister was settled in Suffern.[1]

            Thus begins the official record book of the Suffern Presbyterian Church. What was birthed in prayer lives by prayer goes into the future by the power of prayer.

            A month later, on February 2, at 3pm, the first session of Sabbath School was held with 36 people in attendance and just two weeks later Rev. Marks held the first preaching service. The Sunday School grew to 60 people the next week  which necessitated that the group move next door to Campbell's Hall, an upstairs part of the same building where the Suffern National Bank[2] was once located. Today the downstairs is occupied by the Chinese Takeout Kitchen and upstairs is subdivided into apartments. In response the request of the Sunday School attendees, on Sunday, February 16 at 4pm, Rev. Marks preached in Campbells Hall the first sermon before the Suffern Congregation.    

            Rev. Marks preached one more Sunday and then guest ministers successfully filled the pulpit. One of these guests, on March 23, was Walter J. Campbell.  On Thursday April 10, after the prayer meeting, the congregation voted to hold two preaching services on Sundays, one at 11am, with Sunday School at 2:45 pm, and the second service at 4pm. An Envelope System for contributions was immediately instituted. On May 11 Walter Campbell preached again and our congregation celebrated its first Communion service.

            On Thursday, May 20, 1902 A congregational meeting was held to select, by vote of the people, our acting pastor who should, for the present, hold the official position of assistant pastor of Ramapo Presbyterian Church.  Four candidates stood before the congregation and Rev. Walter Campbell received 28 of the 35 total votes. The initial salary that was voted on by the congregation was $600 per annum but that was increased to $720 in a subsequent meeting. Rev. Campbell began preaching at both Sunday services on June 29 where the second service was moved to 7pm. 

            On July 2, 1902 the congregation voted to begin steps to acquire a lot of ground and to build a house of worship. In the course of three months subscriptions (pledges) were taken from the congregation and Krouse lot on the corner of Maltbie and Washington Ave was purchased for $1,550. In October plans were submitted by Architect Charles Hoar, on November 25 the deed was delivered, and on April 28, 1903 a contract was signed for construction of the Sunday school wing of the building and the tower for the sum of $4,413. On May 4 ground was broken by Thanksgiving the building we now call The Gathering Place was completed.

            On April 21, 1903, at the meeting of the Presbytery of Hudson in Chester, N.Y., Rev. Marks and Rev. Campbell laid before the Presbytery a statement of progress of affairs at Suffern with a request that Presbytery send a committee with authority to organize a church to be known as the Suffern Presbyterian Church.[3]

             On May 21, 1903 in Campbells Hall, by a committee consisting of Rev. David F. Bonner D.D, chairman, Rev. Henry A. Harlow, Rev. Rufus B. Marks, Elder Nathaniel J. Kelsey and Elder George Conklin the Presbytery of Hudson did officially organize our church. Rev. Bonner preached on Ephesians 1:22-23 with his message entitled The Church, Which is His Body, the Fullness of Him that Filleth All in All.[4]  There were 57 charter members in all, 47 by transfer of letter from the Ramapo Presbyterian Church, 7 by transfer from other churches, and 3 joined by profession of faith.

            Each of these charter members signed the official Session Record Book wherein the declared, We, the subscribers, hereby solemnly agree and covenant to walk together in fellowship as a church of Jesus Christ, according to the doctrine and order of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, under the name of Suffern Presbyterian Church, And so purposing, we commend us to God, - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

            Also on this evening the congregation voted to elect three elders to the Session, to serve without limit as to time of service. 34 votes were cast and Lewis Chatfield, David H. McConnell, and Percival Van Orden were elected. The responsibilities of the office of elder was explained, the vows were taken and the congregation promised all honor, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord. After the ordination and installation, the Rev. Dr. Bonner added a brief exhortation and felicitation to the members and officers of the new church, now completely organized. The congregation sang All Hail the Power of Jesus Name and the benediction was pronounced by Rev. Walter Campbell.   

            On Wednesday, June 10, 1903 the congregation met in Campbells Hall in Suffern at 8pm with the Rev. Walter Campbell, Stated Supply, moderating. The purpose of the meeting was to incorporate the church pursuant to the provisions of the Religious Corporations Law. Six Trustees of the Corporation were chosen, James B. Campbell and David H. McConnell for a three year term, Lewis Chatfield and Percival Van Orden for a two year term, and Charles S. Harris and Edgar Tilloir for a one year term. The following day, on June 11 at 9pm the Session had its first official meeting and three new people joined the church.    

            On September 17, 1903, after approval by Presbytery of the organizational meeting, the congregation met to officially call Rev. Walter J. Campbell as an installed pastor, no longer to serve as a stated supply under the auspices of the Ramapo Presbyterian Church. A portion of the call reads as follows, and having good hopes, from our past experience of your labors, that your ministrations in the gospel will be profitable to our spiritual interests, (we) do earnestly call and desire you to undertake the pastoral office in said congregation: promising you, in the discharge of your duty, all proper support, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord. And that you may be free from worldly cares and avocations, we hereby promise and oblige ourselves to pay to you the sum of seven hundred and twenty dollars per annum[5] On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1903 the new chapel was dedicated and Rev. Walter J. Campbell was officially installed as pastor. In that service three favorite hymns were sung, Jesus Wherere Thy People Meet, Blest Be the Tie that Binds,  and All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name.

            The leadership for the churchs Sabbath School included Mr. David Hall McConnell (founder of Avon Products), Superintendent, Mr. Lewis Chatfield, Asst. Superintendent, Mr. J.E. Meirs, Secretary, and Mr. James B. Campbell (Campbells Drug Store in Suffern), Treasurer. During this time, at the close each weekly Sabbath School everyone sang God Be With You.

            The first year of our churchs ministry was most fruitful and successful. 46 more new members joined, 26 of whom came by profession of faith and 7 adults were baptized. The total membership after one year was 100. The Sunday School had 127 scholars with 18 total officers and teachers. Financial receipts were $3,952.02. A Senior and a Junior Christian Endeavor Society, a Men's Prayer Circle, and the Women's Missionary Society had all been organized. What can be attributed to this success? Certainly the leadership did well in organizing and building a new chapel and most certainly the Sabbath school and preaching were conducted with excellence, but there was also a presence of the Holy Spirit and an evangelistic focus that drew in new people from the community.

            For example, three days after the dedication service, at a noon meeting after the morning service, Session met for the first time in the new building and heard the report of the Presbyterial Evangelistic Committee. It was decided that they each should speak to the gathering at the evening service that night. Each member of Session should, in a few words, present his view of the absolute importance of each individual Christian feeling his or her responsibility in soul winning. According to the minutes of this Session meeting, The Session reconvened at 7:30 and conducted the service as arranged. The report of the Presbytery Committee was read by the moderator after which each member of Session made a few brief remarks on the theme of individual evangelism. The presence of the Spirit was very manifest in this service. After that service Robert C. Barish, having presented himself before the Session, made a statement of the fact of his confirmation in the German Lutheran Church and after renewing his confession of faith in Jesus Christ was received into the fellowship of the church and his name recorded on the roll. Six other adults, after an examination as to their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior, were admitted into the membership.

            At nearly every meeting of Session, and these were sometimes weekly, 6-8 new members were received by transfer of membership, reaffirmation of faith, and profession of faith. Typical of the record is the Dec 9, 1903 meeting where 6 new members were received and Grace S. Davidson and Mildred Elizabeth Davidson were instructed to present themselves for Christian baptism. Also at that meeting the weekly prayer meeting was moved from Thursday nights to Wednesday nights and monthly Communion was moved from the second Sabbath to the first Sabbath. It was also decided that the week of prayer should be observed this year. On January 31, 1904 Session met in the afternoon to discuss the evening service called Decision Day in the Sabbath School. After a conference with a number of young people who wanted to be known as Christs disciples Session voted to recess until after the evening service where two youths officially joined the church that night. On quite a few occasions Session would meet on Sunday evenings, recess to take Communion in the worship service, then reconvene to conduct final matters of business. There was a strong sense of prayer and worship at many of the meetings.

            The following comes from the hand of Rev. Campbell himself as he records his first Narrative of Religion for the annual meeting of the congregation in June, 1904.

            The Sabbath School has been an especially fruitful element of our church work, and gives large promise for the future of the church.  The weekly prayer meetings have developed increased interest.  The attendance upon these meetings has doubled in the course of the year.  A Mens Prayer Circle has been organized and holds weekly sessions before the Sabbath morning service.  These meetings are proving a blessing to all who take advantage of them and they give promise of great power in developing our men for Gospel witnessing.  The Junior and Senior Christian Endeavor Societies have been organized and report encouraging growth in numbers and in interest.

            But the most encouraging sign of spiritual growth is the fact that the family altar, long thrown down, has in many cases been re-created and the prayers of families are ascending as a cloud of sweet incense to the throne of Heavenly Grace.  We render unto the great Head of the church our hearty and humble thanks for all His mercies and pray that His quickening and sanctifying Spirit may abide with us all, and send us forth to reap an abundant harvest in His name.

            Prayer was central to our churchs ministry in those days. On August 7, 1904 the Session met and a half hour season of prayer was held with the Mens Prayer Circle. This prayer circle met every Sunday morning before the service to pray for Gods blessing and work that day. Evangelism was also taken seriously. Once the pastor encouraged the Session in personal effort with a view to bringing the awakened to a decision.[6]  At the  March 2, 1906 meeting of Session, The communication from the General Assemblys Evangelistic Committee was read and its recommendations adopted, calling for earnest, personal effort for winning of souls. March 11, 1906 was to be observed as Decision Day in the Sabbath School. Session also voted to take an offering for the American Bible Society and Tract Society. The supporting of local and overseas missions was a third major thrust of our churchs ministry, as can be seen from examining the annual financial reports. Prayer, evangelism, missions, education and worship all made up the foundation of our churchs ministry.    

As the church grew so did the Session. At the annual meeting in May 1905 the congregation voted to increase the number of elders by two where they elected Frederick Van Houten and Frank Osborn. In April and May of 1906 Rev. Campbell recorded his last Narratives of Religion:

            The services of the sanctuary have been regularly and faithfully sustained during the past year.  There has been a most encouraging growth along all lines of church activity throughout the year.  While there has been no marked spiritual awakening yet, there has been an increased earnestness manifest in many lives and this gives great promise under Divine blessing for harvest reaping in the future.  The average attendance at the preaching services has increased.  The average attendance of the Sabbath School for the year has been 105 as over against 82 last year.  From the Sabbath School, 13 have been received in full communion with the church.  The total additions to the church on confession have been 22, on certificate 29, making an increase for the year of 51.

            During the year we have lost to death three of our number.  They have gone up from serving their Master here on earth to join with the hosts of heaven in the praise of the Lamb who has saved them.

            All the societies of the congregation are in a good condition and we have much to be thankful for in being permitted to do this much for Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.  May a double portion of His Spirit be upon us as we look faithfully and courageously into the future and follow where so ere He may lead.

            On July 25, in a special called meeting of the congregation Rev. Campbell tendered his resignation wherein he said, We have just completed our fourth year of labor together and the seal of the Divine approval has been upon our work during these years. 179 members have been received into the membership of this church, 58 of whom have come by confession of faith in Christ as the Son of God and their personal Savior.  Initially the congregation voted against accepting his resignation but in a meeting shortly before the planned departure date of October 1 the congregation voted to accept it. Rev. Campbell left our church for a work which he loved more than pastoring, being a teacher and counselor in the Young Mans Christian Association (YMCA) a ministry which, at that time, was perhaps the most effective organization in America in communicating the Gospel to youth.

            As an interesting aside, in 1903 there was a Calvary Baptist Church in Suffern, Tallman Bible Church was known as The Congregational Church in Tallman, the United Methodist Church was located on the current site of the Bank of New York and was called the Methodist Episcopal Church of Suffern, Christ Church of Ramapo (Episcopal) was called the Protestant Episcopal Church, Airmont Lutheran Church was called The German Lutheran Church.

            The procedure for acquiring a new pastor was quite different in 1906 than it is today. A Supply Committee sic Pulpit Committee was chosen by Session to secure guest pastors for leading the Wednesday night prayer meetings and Sunday morning and evening worship services. These visiting speakers generally were potential candidates for the full-time pastoral vacancy. By December 17 Session was ready to present a list of 9 potential candidates to the congregation for a vote. On January 2, 1907, the fifth anniversary of our churchs organization as a Sunday School, the congregation voted on seven candidates. The top two in the first ballot were then voted on in 5 more balloting procedures. Each time roughly 41 votes were cast for a Rev. Kerr and 23 for a Rev. Owen. Rev. Kerr had already stated in a letter that he would not come if there were a considerable minority opposed to him nor it the church voted a salary of less than $1500 per annum.  A motion to approve the $1500 salary passed only by 34-30 and a motion to make the call unanimous for Rev. Kerr was 43 ayes, 18 nays.   Realizing that Rev. Kerr would not accept a call to Suffern under these circumstances, the congregation attempted to elect other candidates but there were no majority votes. The meeting ended in failure to elect a new pastor.

            On February 27, 1907 another congregational meeting was held to elect a pastor from 2 candidates. A pastor was chosen but at a salary of $1200 per annum. This pastor never came. In April 1908 a new pulpit committee of 12, consisting of elders and members of the congregation, was elected. On June 12 the congregation voted 41-6 to call Rev. Emery D. Webster of Morristown, NJ, as pastor, paying him $1200 a year.

            Unfortunately, the minutes of the Session meetings held for the next decade contain considerably fewer details regarding the actual ministry of our church, reporting mostly on admissions and dismissals in memberships and attendance records and financial figures in the annual meeting minutes. It is difficult, therefore, to get a sense of how the ministry went during this time. A Mr. Frank Osborne served as clerk of Session and he included less narrative information than Rev. Campbell did when he recorded the minutes of meetings.  So, regrettably, there are fewer stories to tell in this chapter of our history.  

            Just before Rev. Campbells resignation the congregation voted to approve supporting the Forward Movement. Each year the church would hear reports of various foreign missions for which this movement raised funds. One local mission we supported was the Salvation Armys Cherry Tree Home in Spring Valley. Other missions projects our church helped fund were New York State Anti Saloon League, Freedmens, Aid to Colleges, Bible Society, and the American Sabbath Union.   

            In December of 1907, with Rev. Webster serving as the new moderator, Session voted to change Communion services from bimonthly to quarterly.

            In the May 1908 Annual Report there were 13 active Junior and 28 active Senior Christian Endeavor Society participants. Christian Endeavor was the main youth program of our church in its first decade.  The Womens Missionary Society reported an average attendance of 11 and financial receipts of $15.83 from the mite boxes. One box, valued at $18.00, was sent to the Freedmen in the South. The Ladies Aid Society reported 40 in average attendance and that they held cake sales to raise funds for purchasing an individual Communion service for the pastor.

            At the annual meeting in May 1909 the pastor reported that 21 new members had joined the church, 11 by confession of faith and 10 by letter, with a total membership of 186. The Sunday School continued to grow, the Christian Endeavor Societies grew a lot in their attendance, and the Ladies Aid Society raised over $700. New this year was the monthly meeting of the Young Men's Club of the Presbyterian Church whose purpose was to promote the social life of the young menand provide a means for work in the church. They reported, Mr. William Peddle gave an interesting talk upon some incidents in his experience with railroads, Dr. Hussey gave a helpful talk on subject entitled First Aid to the Injured, Mr. Webster gave an interesting talk upon the Claim of Socialism, Mr. McConnell gave an instructive talk upon some incidents and places of interest which he visited on a trip Westand in our last meeting, a debate took place between three young men of the Club and three young ladies of the Church, upon a subject entitled Woman's Suffrage.

            On March 10, 1910 Session voted its first letter of dismissal for a member of our church to the Ramapo Presbyterian Church. Until this point, literally a dozen of our new members were transferring from this church every year.  The Christian Endeavor Societies continued in their strong ministry for the next several years, averaging 35-50 in total memberships. Some of the membership trends of this era include the following. In 1909 the Sunday school reported 19 officers and 176 pupils, with an average attendance of 114. There seemed to be a decline in the enrollment when in 1911 there were 120 pupils with an average attendance 92. In 1913 the average attendance was 87 and by 1917 it was 69. In 1914 the church membership only grew by 3, from 201 to 204 but in 1917 there were 218 members. While the membership did grow steadily under Rev. Websters leadership, particularly in his last two years, the number of persons on the suspended list (today called inactive members) became a factor.

            The music program seemed to struggle during this time. In 1912 Session voted to request the pastor to reorganize the choir and take charge of the music. Two years later Rev. Webster gave the responsibility back to a committee of Session headed by David McConnell. From 1913-1916 the church had no choir, because the choirister (choir director) was let go and the choir dissolved. At one point Session determined that there was no money to pay a pianist but later there are records of various pianists being paid $2.00 per Sunday.  

            At the 1912 Annual Meeting a motion was adopted that the officers of the Ladies Aid Society, Chairman of the C E (Christian Endeavor) Entertainment Committee, and the Pastor constitute a special committee to suggest an entertainments chair in charge of the Social matters of the church. In December 1914 Session approved the pastor to secure the services of a man from Ridgewood, NJ to lecture on a Sunday morning on the topic of Efficiency in Church Work. In November, 1916 the youth reorganized into The Social Circle for the purpose of promoting a social atmosphere and aiding in pastoral work. It is unclear if this Social Circle served to replace the Christian Endeavor Societies. There is little mention of the C.E. Societies in subsequent annual reports[7] but in August 1921, when Rev. Killborn was pastor, Session voted to approve the organization of an Intermediate Christian Endeavor Society in two sections, that the pastor and Mr. Fisk be in charge and the pastor be empowered to appoint leaders.  Mrs. E.R. Suffern and a Mrs. Hench were later appointed as leaders.

            On December 12, 1912 Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Pace joined the church by transfer from Central Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, MN. Mr. Pace was to become founder of what is now called Pace University in Westchester County. Mr. Pace was quite active in raising funds for the new church sanctuary built in 1920 and in April 1923, at the annual meeting of the congregation, Mr. Pace presented the church with a deed to the two lots Corner of Washington Ave. and Oliver St.  The original manse was the old Wannamaker farm house. In 1913 the congregation determined that this old house was inadequate for the pastor's needs and decided to build a new manse on the same lot with a cost not to exceed $5000. The Wannamaker house was moved to 44 Prairie so the new manse could be built on the same lot. In 1920 the new sanctuary was constructed and the new manse ended up being only five feet away from the sanctuary building. Rev. Rudy Wissler, in his history of the church (please see that section of this publication) noted how the new manse was moved to the corner lot of Oliver and Washington Aves but ended up being demolished in the 1960s in order to make room for the McConnell Christian Education Center (now called the Childrens Ministry Center).  

            In the middle 1910s there was developing interest in participating in events and holding union services with the other two Protestant churches in Suffern. On July 9, 1917 Session voted to have only the Sunday morning service during the weeks of the pastors vacation, usually the month of August. Little did Session realize that economic factors during the two World Wars and the Great Depression, as well as significant summer attendance drop offs, would lead the three Protestant churches to hold joint services during the summer months. In critical times the churches even merged their services in the winter months to conserve on coal. The United States entered World War I in April of 1917 and 18 months later we read how Mr. McConnell reported that a committee had been formed for the purpose of considering the consolidation of the services of the Protestant churches in Suffern. On December 18, 1918 Mr. Chatfield announced that he had communicated with the Fuel Administrator and was informed that the churches could be supplied with coal, but in only small quantities at a time.   Conserving fuel was part of the war effort. The church was doing well economically as can be noted in a vote to raise the new pastors salary to $2000 per year when that salary had been held at $1200 for a decade and only raised to $1700 in Rev. Websters last year.  Even before the onset of the First World War  one can note our churchs concern for what was going on in Europe with the Ladies Missionary Society promoting contributions to "The Relief of Belgian Children, the Armenian and Syrian Relief and the Armenian Atrocities Relief funds.

            At a Session meeting on Dec 23, 1917 Pastor Emery Webster stated that he had received a call to new church near his hometown (Brockport, NY) where his parents lived and desired that Session concur with his request to move. Elder McConnell stated that after hearing the sermon of the morning on unselfishness, he could but move we concur with the pastors request that a congregational meeting be called Two years later, in August 1918 the congregation voted to extend a call to Rev. Truman A. Killborne to serve as pastor. Rev. Killbornes services as Moderator and guest preacher had already been secured several months earlier but the call was completely validated by December that year.

            In 1918 Mr. I. A. (Irving) Fisk became Superintendent of the Sunday School Department, a position he held with great devotion and care for the next fifteen years. Mr. Fisk was the father of Mrs. Helen Fisk Hollister, who served as our church guest organist beginning in 1934 and was employed as our regular organist in 1938 until she married Rev. Luther M. Hollister and moved away. She is presently a member of the Westtown Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Jean Fisk Forsberg, a younger daughter to Irene and Irving Fisk was a faithful member of our congregation, an elder and Sunday School teacher for many years, just recently left us to live near family in Maine. In a congregational meeting February 1919 Mr. Irving Fisk was elected an elder. He faithfully served as clerk of Session for a number of years, and not long after his death, on May 13, 1934 his wife Irene was elected an elder, the first woman elder in the Presbytery of Hudson.

            Also in this February 1919 meeting of the congregation where it was voted to increase the members of Session by three, Dr. E.R. Suffern, a Suffern dentist, was elected elder. Dr. and Mrs. Suffern transferred their membership from the Ramapo Presbyterian Church in Hillburn in December 1918 and was immediately elected an elder in our church. Dr. Suffern was a great, great grandchild of John Suffern of New Antrim, Ireland, from who the name of our village derives. His son, Dick (Richard) Suffern, recently deceased, joined the church by confession of faith in 1923 and later became a pastor in the Reformed Church of America. His son, Rev. Ned Suffern, pastor of Hope Reformed Church in Clifton, New Jersey is the guest speaker for our Saturday night, June 7, 2003 Centennial Celebration dinner.  Suffern Presbyterian is proud to be linked to the John Suffern family not just in name but by our faith in, love for, and service to the Lord Jesus Christ.

            Immediately upon Rev. Killbornes arrival Sessions activity level seems to pick up and there seems to be a more positive outlook. In April 1919, 39 new members joined the Church, the largest single group to that date. According to Gardner Watts[8] a number of young men returned from army service in France and resumed their role in community and Church affairs. This certainly helped the overall health of the congregation. As more new members were joining, there was also more money to do the work of ministry and to be given to missions causes. In December Session approved that more hymnals be purchased to make the total number 125, the Every Member Canvass recommended by the General Assembly be put into effect (a program where the elders or a finance/stewardship committee would annually visit every member of the congregation and solicit new subscriptions i.e. new financial pledges and payment of old pledges). A leader for the new Camp Fire Girls group was also chosen.  

            For this large group of new members, on March 2, 1919 the Session gave Pastor Killborne the power to ask those joining the church by profession of faith some additional questions. The questions were related to, daily prayer, Scripture reading, and weekly church attendance. In a later meeting it was clarified that the pastor could ask such questions but had to make it clear to the congregation that the member candidate could dissent to the additional questions and still be received as a full member of the church.  One can see a renewed interest in spiritual disciplines and faith commitments in Rev. Killbornes ministry, more like during Rev. Campbells years.

            In other Session meetings in 1919 we see our church providing scholarships for boys to attend the state YMCA camp in NJ. In coming years the Easter offering was usually designated for this purpose. In 1919 Session even gave Pastor Killborne two weeks away to travel with the youth to the camp.

             The 1920s was a time when Christian cultural norms were being challenged. Questions were raised as to the appropriateness of certain activities on church property.  On May 12, 1919 Session declared that there be no dancing on church property, but on in 1926 this ban was rescinded and the young mens fellowship was to soon hold formal dances in the church basement. On a Sunday morning in November 1919 a joint service with the Methodist Episcopal Church was held and Honorable Richard P. Hobson spoke on the Prohibition question.  In September 1920 the Session read a letter from the Anti Saloon League requesting permission to speak to our congregation but for an unspecified reason the request was denied. On Dec. 21, 1924, however, Session approved a motion for this Anti Saloon League to make a presentation in a joint meeting of SPC and the Suffern Methodist Episcopal Church. This presentation then became a yearly event for a decade or longer.

            Another example of this culture war was how on January 23, 1921 Session moved that it go on record as disapproving the playing of cards within the walls of the Church Building and that the pastor be requested to communicate this information to the committee at present working on plans for organizing a mens society. Strikingly, on April 15, 1928 Session approved the Boy Scouts to raise funds by means of a benefit moving pictures performance and the Girl Scouts to raise funds by means of a bridge whist party. But Session wasnt ready for card playing for the general church membership. On August 10 of that year they voted to approve that church membership and societies can use the chapel and parlors for social gatherings at which cards may be played but then voted to reconsider and postpone the decision.

            Another example includes, Resolved that Session of this church formally express its disapproval of any means of raising money for the church purposes which is contrary to the laws of the state of New York, in particular the gambling laws, and express the wish that all the organizations of the church will comply with this resolution. In 1928 Session approved the purchase of a billiards table for the downstairs youth room.

            On March 5, 1922 the Session addressed a letter which requested that a Mrs. Helen K. Strain of the Board of Temperance and Moral Welfare be allowed to speak from the pulpit about a campaign against habit forming drugs. Again, interestingly, the request was refused but Session did then vote to appropriate $10.00 for the Board of Evangelistic Work.

            A decade later, there was controversy in the village about the showing of movies in town. Church leaders felt that Sunday evening shows would detract from the Sunday evening services and the protestant churches met to discuss how to oppose it.  No results of this effort are recoded in the minutes.

            On Oct 10, 1919 a congregational meeting was held at 8:40pm which was opened by singing America. A Mr. McGarreh from the New Era Movement spoke on the topic of a new, aggressive, large scale denominational program of unified giving for the purpose of raising several millions of dollars for overseas missions and local denominational programs. Included in this giving were commitments to help rebuild Europe after the war. In February 1921 Session voted to respond to Presbyterys New Era Committee Chairman that it would not be possible for us to reach our quota of $2400 for the closing year for benevolence Given that the total operating budget of our church in 1919 $3139 and in 1921 about $5000, one can see the scope of this program. But there was another major exciting factor that stretched the limits of our churchs dreams and generosity.

            At that congregation meeting in October 1919, a motion was made and approved to raise $35,000 to construct and furnish a new sanctuary. Mr. Charles Pace was appointed to serve as chair of fundraising committee and he promptly appointed 30 members to the committee to assist him in taking pledges for contributions to the new church. He also appointed a committee to go to Bethlehem PA to the Reformed Church there as they were offering SPC their used pews. Session approved purchasing from them three pulpit chairs, some small gallery pews, 2 pulpits, 1 clergy desk, and 21 opera chairs. The next year the 30 small pews were sold to Congregation Sons of Israel and 30 new pews were purchased for a sum of $2529.58.  At the conclusion of the project, the total cost was $45,500, ten thousand more than originally forecast, but this now included the stained glass windows. During the process of fund raising, David H. McConnell gave matching gifts, dollar for dollar, thus motivating the giving. A month after the dedication all bills were paid except $2000 which was still to be raised.

            As chairman of the Dedication Committee, Mr. McConnell arranged a splendid Dedication Service for Sunday, June 5, 1921 at 3:30pm. The officiating pastors included Rev. C.M Ackerman of the Hillburn Church , Rev. Stephen McGinley, Rector of the Episcopal Church, Rev. Wm E. Palmer, Pastor of the Methodist Church, Rev. A.M. Elliott, Pastor of the Ramapo Church, Rev. John Munnich, Pastor of the Airmount Lutheran Church, and (former pastors) Rev. Emery D. Webster, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church Brockport, N.Y. and Rev. Walter Campbell, , Professor in the Y.M.C.A. Training School at Springfieldand the present pastor of this church.[9]  

            Promptly at 3:30 the Dedicatory Procession started, the ministers advancing down the centre aisle two by two reading responsively the 24^th Psalm.[10] Immediately behind them, also two by two came the Session and the Trustees of the Hillburn Presbyterian Church, and concluding the procession, the Trustees and Session of the Suffern Church. The ministers concluded the Psalm in front of the pulpit and then filed on to the Platform According to Gardner Watts, The entire Session of the Ramapo Presbyterian Church was present as representatives of our parent church. A choir formed from several local churches, a Miss Gertrude Elliotte sang How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings, the choruses sung were With Grateful Hearts and The Lord is My Light, The hymns sung were Old One Hundredth (Doxology), The Church is One Foundation, O Where Are Kings and Empires Now, Jerusalem the Golden, and the final hymn America. Rev. Webster gave the sermon for the day and Rev. Campbell gave a message of greeting.

            Rev. Killborne recorded that, This service was probably the largest Protestant service held in the history of Suffern, the attendance was slightly under six hundred. The affair was a most signal success in every way, many people being present who are rarely seen out at church affairs. The chairman of the Dedication Committee was Mr. McConnell, whose munificence made possible the new church building by his liberal offer to provide half the funds.   At this time the membership of the congregation numbered 264, the Sunday School 165, and an average Sunday morning attendance of about 140.

            Some dynamics in churches tend to never change. At the annual meeting of the congregation April 27, 1921 Rev. Kilborne explained Presbyterian Law that the Moderator of Session (the pastor) must moderate the meeting of the congregation and that the clerk of the Session shall be clerk of this meeting, too. The present clerk of the Session, Mr. O.N. Tuthill asked to be excused and suggested the name of Mr. R.E. Spicer (who was clerk of the congregational meetings for many years previous but not clerk of Session). Mr. Spicer begged off and suggested the name of I.A. Fisk who, having no excuse ready at the moment, accepted.

            April 28, 1921 approved a service of the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons. Also, 10 years later in 1931 Session invited the Masonic lodge to attend in a body the morning worship services.

            In the early 1920s the music program continued to be a challenge. There was often much discussion as to the merits of paying a professional soloist to perform or whether a paid pianist, organist, or choir director should be hired (sometimes these were separate persons). Dr. E.R. Suffern was chair of the music committee.  He struggled regularly to obtain soloists and organists who could play to the congregations satisfaction. On My 17, 1921 there was a joint meeting of the elders and trustees where the evening was spent discussing the subject of church music. However, the minutes of the annual congregational meeting in April 1923 record, Resolution of Dr. Ball thanking all who had assisted, for the splendid music program we have had during the year, unanimously adopted.   

On June 6, 1920 Mr. Frank Greene and Mrs. Eva Green joined the church by confession of faith.

            The following items were chosen from the Session minutes simply because of the nature of the business. In March of 1920 Rev. Killborne spoke to the Session about the need for a mens brotherhood in our church. Mr. Pace was asked to assist the pastor in this endeavor. On Dec. 11, 1920 The situation relative to the falling off of attendance to prayer meeting services was discussed at length.  On Nov 27, 1921 there was considerable discussion as to methods of getting members of the Sunday School to remain for the morning service.

            An annual offering for Bloomfield Theological Seminary in NJ was to be taken and the president of the seminary guest preached here in the summer months during the pastors absence. In April 1921 Session addressed the issue of how to relate to those who visit on Sunday mornings by voting, Mrs. Ball be appointed the chairman of the greeting committee to speak to strangers after Church services.

            In August 1921 Session heartily granted permission to Rev. Killborne to be absent on Sunday in order to take part in revival services to be held at a neighboring church. Also in that meeting the pastor reported that a Mr. Winfield Carlough would be leaving shortly for the Mt. Hermon School preparatory to taking up study for the ministry. At the next meeting Session requested the opportunity to meet with Mr. Carlough before he left for school and express our interest and pleasure in his going into ministry and that we as a Session and representatives of the Church feel it a great honor that each member of the Session have the opportunity to express his personal good wishes and feelings in his undertaking.

            On March 26, 1922 the Session voted to grant permission for our buildings to be used by the Sunday School Convention of Rockland County in the next month. A photo of those in attendance at this convention is found in the Wissler Room.

            At the annual meeting in April of 1922 a Miss Myrta Barrett reported that the Young Peoples Society had raised funds for sending delegates to the summer conference, had contributed to Womens Board of Home Missions and the Board Foreign Missions, and in addition, had raised enough money from the congregation to purchase an automobile for the Pastor.  The pastor then expressed thanks to the Young People and the congregation and offered the use of the car to any of the congregation who might be in need of it. At this meeting an annual budget of $6275 was approved.

            In March 1922 the Session met to consider a plan brought forth my the various Boards of the church for financial assistance. The plan was called Self Denial Week for raising funds was approved. Unfortunately, no more details are provided. 

            In May 1922 Session approved formation of a committee to plan a series of evangelistic meetings in the fall. These services were never held as they were initially postponed to the winter in order to held in conjunction with a Presbytery sponsored program for evangelistic meetings and then Rev. Killborne resigned April of 1923. At this May 1922 Session also approved paying a financial deficiency from the Mother and Daughter Banquet by using proceeds from the coming Father and Son banquet in the fall, and they gave the pastor a week of absence to attend boys camp. Session also appropriated $50.00 to help pay for the Boys and Girls camps and then Mr. McConnell gave a $100 to the pastor to help pay for all the camp expenses.      

            In September of 1922 a member of our congregation requested transfer of her letter to a Christian Science Church but Session responded by asking her to join that church and notify our church of such so that her name may be dropped from the roll.

            In October of 1920 the Trustees approved the free use of church basement for Suffern Boy Scouts for 6 weeks and in February 1923 Session approved the organization of a Boys Scouts Troop for the church provided that the leadership be in the hands of responsible men and that the oversight of the whole affair be vested in the Superintendents Council. This troop was to be officially formed under the leadership of the next pastor, Henry F. Watts.

            At several subsequent meetings Session approved sending funds to various causes and institutions, namely a student pastor at Cornell, Bloomfield Theological Seminary, Huron College, Park College, Presbyterian College of Clarkesville, Arkansas, and a church building project in Cordova, Alaska.

            On April 1, 1923 Rev. Killborne announced to Session and Trustees that he had accepted a call to Greenwich Presbyterian Church in New York City and that he wished to resign his pastorate here effective May 1. By April 6 Session had appointed a committee on the new pastor, and by July 12 this committee had found a new pastor, Rev. Henry F. Watts.

            The minutes from the annual meeting of the congregation on April 18the were very complete and particular details are of note. The congregation voted to spread upon the minutes the following summary:

            During the pastorate of Rev. Truman A. Kilborne, extending over a period of four and ½ years, and now coming to a close, 145 new members have been added to our church roll49 by letter, and 96 by confession; our Sunday School has increased from 80 members to 210 members; three Christian Endeavor Societies have been organized and are in active operation; our annual benevolences have increased from $140 to $1600; our church expenses have increased from $1700 to $6200; the number attending our Sunday morning services has increased from 40 or 50 to 200, or more; many delegates have been sent to summer camp, and a large number of delegates have been sent to summer conferences, annually; our new church plant has been erected, and real property added, all at a cost of approximately $50,000 which sum has been subscribed, and practically all paid.

            Realizing that this excellent showing is very largely due to the vision, energy, persistency, organizing ability, and unceasing labors of Mr. Kilborne, both in the pulpit, and individually with the members of this congregation, I move that the foregoing be spread on the records of this church, in grateful appreciation of his services while with us; also that we wish him unbounded success in the larger field to which he has been called.

            Dr. Suffern presented Mr. Kilborne with a purse, a gift from the congregation and Miss Myrta Barrett presented him with a gift from the Keystone Societies.

            Also at this meeting a resolution was passed regarding a Dr. Henry S. Cooley, member of Session and leader in the Sunday School, who was moving away to East Orange, NJ. The resolution states in part, For many year you have been on of our most honored elders and though living farther from the church than any other officer, you have set an example for us all in your unfailing faithfulness in attendance Your wide experience in dealing with young people has made you invaluable to us in our growing Sunday School both as teacher and Superintendant  of our Intermediate Department. Your cheerful and hearty spirit of service has been helpful to us all; you have never refused any duty for your church that was within the limit of your time and strengthYour counsel as elder has been wise and deeply appreciatedAnd above all your Christian character has stimulated us all as you have quietly moved and worked among us.

            A major issue regarding electing officers in the Presbyterian Church was also addressed in this monumental meeting. Mr. I. A. Fisk, though absent from the meeting, wrote a letter asking that the congregation approve a rotation system for elders and end the process of succeeding themselves year after year.  The motion passed by 44-33 with two amendments 1. that elders can serve two consecutive three year terms (Mr. Fisk had proposed just one term) and that 2. We make no exception to the rule, that all Elders should be treated alike. In a letter attached to the minutes Mr. Fisk wrote I do not recall a single election since I have been a member of this church (1915) when an elder was not automatically re-elected at the expiration of his term Our church is growing. New people are coming in. The congregation ought to have a chance to elect new elders without hurting the feelings of the present officers I feel that our church cannot grow properly so long as there is no chance to develop new leaders. Mr. Fisk did however ask for, and the congregation granted, an exception for David. H. McConnell, who was not present at the meeting that night, and whose term had expired. For some reason, though, Mr. McConnell was not reelected, nor was Mr. Fisk as he had requested. The controversy did not end here. Next month, after the meeting to call Rev. Watts as pastor, a motion to rescind this election procedure was discussed at length and ended up being tabled. During the course of 1923/24 two attempts to have Presbytery overrule this policy were made but Presbytery upheld the decision. In a meeting before the next annual meeting Session sought to bring harmony in the church by proposing holding the election by secret ballot with the selection being made from the six names receiving the most votes. Run off ballots were cast until each elder was elected by a majority, depending on the number of openings there were. This process succeeded in April 1924 and, not surprisingly, David McConnell and Irving Fisk were reelected. This battle for rotating church officers continued for a long time but now, the issue is resolved because the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order stipulates the same rotation system adopted by our congregation in 1923 (secret ballots are optional).

            Also at this April 1, 1923 meeting some interesting figures were supplied as the value of the church property:

            Old Church dedicated in 1903  $10,000

            House and lot purchased-

                        Wannamaker property                 3,500

            Repairs to old house                                    500

            New Manse and extras                  5800

            New Church Building & Furnishings   45,600

            Value of corner lots given by Mr. Pace  2,800

                        Total                                        $68,200

A church budget of $7500 was approved with the pastors salary increased to $3500 (up from $2500 the previous year but $500 of this was added on as a special gift). It was interestingly reported that the Young Peoples Society presented the church with a Stereopticon, something Church has long needed.  

            On July 3, 1923 at 8pm the Congregation met to hear the report of the Committee on Candidates. A call was issued to Henry Fairfield Watts of Patterson, NY, to begin his duties as pastor on September 1. His first Session meeting was October 15 and he was officially installed on December 11.

            At Rev. Watts first meeting Session voted to invite the Hillburn and Hempstead Churches to send delegates to a conference to be conducted by the Committee on Promotion and Field Activities in the church They also voted to inform the Presbytery that our church would join the Evangelistic Campaign inaugurated by the Presbytery. 

            At the next meeting in November, the issue of membership was raised. Session appointed two elders and the pastor to go over the list of members and recommend to Session the transfer to the suspended list and (who) should be so transferred. Next month this committee recommended that out of town members should transfer their letters to local churches. In March a list of 21 names was put on the Suspended List but another 17 people were also admitted into the membership the next month. Along these same lines, in June a list of non contributing members was reported and Session members agreed call on them.  

            On December 17, 1923 Dr. Suffern reported to Session that Mark Stewart had consented to organize a church scout troop it a committee of three men from the church would stand back of the organization as a troop committee. Session next voted to approve Friday night as their meeting night and in January appointed a Scout committee of Messers F. Van Houten, C. Pohl, and W. Hogan.

            In May, 1924 Session decided to hold out door community religious services in the month of July but to also follow the previous custom and discontinue the evening services for the months of June, July, August, and September. Also in that meeting they voted that we invite the other protestant churches (in Suffern) to join in the fall evangelistic campaign, and that the pastor interview the other ministers relative to holding union services in July or August.

            Plans for the evangelistic services came together at the September meeting of Session when Rev. Watts reported that a Rev. B.H. Everett of Ossining, NY was available to speak November 30 through December 12. All the Protestant churches in Suffern and Hillburn were to participate, a community visitation plan was developed, and even it was proposed to get the Catholic and Jewish churches to put on some special religious services at the same time. In preparation for the event Session approved 6 cottage prayer meetings, 2 each week for 3 weeks and that people be urged to attend the regular services for the month of November. Sessions minutes did not report any details of the campaign other than Session helping to pay some $70.00 in additional expenses (the congregation had raised $402).

Some of the ministries Session voted to financially were:

 In September 1923, Session voted to give to the American Red Cross Society for Japanese Relief all that mornings offerings except the envelopes.

Near East Relief was granted permission to present their cause.

Misc.  Winter 1924 organ needed extensive repairs. Choir needed to be reorganized. March 30, 1925 Session voted to discontinue the evening service 3^rd Sunday in April until further notice.

There were no annual meeting notes for April 1924 except re the election process.

            Gardner Watts reports that in 1925 the Ku Klux Klan was everywhere and that it sought an audience with our church.  Once here was a large rally of the Klan where it paraded down Lafayette Avenue in attempt to intimidate the Catholic church and spread its message of intolerance of non WASPs e.g. the Polish and the Irish. They often burned crosses on the mountain in Hillburn in order stir up fear, particularly among young Catholic girls. At one time members of the Klan approached our church and asked to attend a Sunday evening service in  full regalia and that, if permitted, there would be a big offering in the plate that night for the church. This offer was flatly refused.  

Van Allen Clark joined the church April 8, 1928, trans from First Pres Mattewan, NY

Sand table was bought for the Sunday School in 1925

April 1, 1925 $300 was added to the budget for a church callendar. (what is this?)

May 10, 1925 Pastor presented a request from the choir of the Hillburn Church (Colored) for the privilege of giving a musical in the auditorium of our church and take a silver offering for the benefit of their choir fund. Granted.

June 8, 1925 Session approved the plan of a Daily Vacation Bible School for the summer and guaranteed the amount of money needed that was our churchs share.

Watts attended a conference at Union Theo Sem summer 1925

Sept 20, 1925 Pastor reported the formation of a Girl Scout Troop with Mrs. J.M Williams, captain and Mrs. E.A.Whitney as First Lieutenant. The troop was recognized as a church organization with a committee of five to represent them.

Dr. Suffern was teaching a class of young men in 1925.

November 8, 1925 voted to extend the privilege of the pulpit and a request for pledges to a representative of the Board of Ministerial Relief and Sustentation. On January 12, 1926 the congregation voted 44-2 to approve entering the program.  

At the annual meeting in 1926 the list of Reports of Officers and Societies included Young Peoples Society, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Womens Missionary Society, Pastors Aid Society, Church School, and Church Membership.

Gardner Watts joined the church March 3, 1926 as a teen.

May 10, 1926 Session voted to have union services with the Methodist and Episcopal churches for three Sunday mornings in August, Pastor to take care of the other two Sundays.  Union evening services for the fall and winter were approved in Sept.

In 1927 a church budget of $8191 was approved.

Dec. 12, 1927 Session voted to hold a week of prayer for the holidays by having three evening meetings that week.

Feb. 13, 1928 Session and Trustees in a joint meeting approved that we combine the Benevolence and the local church support budgets in one budget, asking for one subscription beginning this year, the division between the two funds to be made by the Elders and Trustees unless stipulated otherwise by the subscriber. The motion lost. Benevolence receipts reported at the April 1927 meeting of the congregation were $1261.12 with a quota set at $1500. Also at this meeting Van Allen Clark was elected chair of the Every Member Canvass program. A week later the Session and Trustees called a meeting of the congregation to approve a church budget of $8778 and Benevolences of $2000, which it did in March but in the annual meeting in April a budget of $6752 was approved.

Helen Irene Fisk joined the church March 28, 1928 by confession of faith, having completed the pastors Communicants class.   

>>> see if Greenwich Pres in NYC has pic of Killborne*************************

Sept 20, 1925 Sufferns local and first church based Girl Scout Troop was approved.

In the 20s only subscribers of record could vote for trustees, i.e.  only members who officially pledged and fulfilled their pledges could vote in the annual meeting to elect trustees.

In 1927 the pastors salary was $3000/yr.

During August, when the pastor traditionally took his one month vacation, the church would officially close and hold joint meetings with the Methodist Episcopal Church and Protestant Episcopal Church. 

October 1928 Session began exploring the possibility of a Week Day Church School.

            On January 2, 1929 Session undertook implementing released time for public school children for religious instruction. This was to be done, in cooperation with all the churches in Suffern (utilizing) a plan Weekday Religious Instruction to be given in the churches during Public School hours by teachers having the approval of the New York State Board of Regents and for which regent credit can be secured. This program of released time religious education was reintroduced by our church in the mid-1990s and was quite successful for two years until the superintendent of the Ramapo Central School District reinterpreted the meaning of being released for one hour of religious instruction to mean being released from school grounds for a total of one hour. Bus transportation required fifteen minutes each way and the new ruling effectively instructional time to 20 minutes rather than an hour. After more than 40 years of an effective program at Sacred Heart Catholic Church the program was abandoned by all the churches. 

            Also at this January 2, 1928 meeting Session approved a five weeks school of missions and appropriated from benevolence funds a subscription to the Presbyterian magazine for each household in the church.

The budget approved by the congregation in April 1929 was $7006.88 with the largest budget items being the pastors salary at $3000, music director/supplies $1145, coal $550, and the sexton $480.  The following year a slightly greater budget was adopted ($7225) and Benevolences of $1840 even the stock market crash of 1929 had occurred. In these days Benevolences were subscribed to like general pledges but a separate weekly offering. Duplex offering envelopes were used. Missionaries and different causes were supported from this fund.  $7465 in 1931, $1840 Benevolences.   

Marcus Stewart was chair of the Boy Scout Committee for many years in the 20s.

ON June 23, 1929  SPC received a member transferring from The Hillburn Methodist Protestant Church. 

The Poor Fund name was changed in 1929 to the Relief Fund. 

***Dec. 29, 1929 The clerk of Session advised the Board of Trustees that the pastors gown is completely worn out and we believe that it is desirable the he be furnished with a new one.

Communion was celebrated quarterly in the 20s.

On 2/13/30 Session approved Miss Helen Fisk to be allowed to practice on the organ.

3/10/30 Brook Chapel as requested to furnish the congregational supper at $.60 a plate. On 2/15/31 Session recorded that we request the colored people to furnish the supper at a price of $.60-.65 a plate for our annual congregational meeting. The full cost was to be paid by those present.

Every year until ----- we see the Trustees being elected to succeed themselves in the annual meetings. Each year at the time of the annual meeting much emphasis was placed on the every member canvass where Session members and trustees visited all members who had not made a pledge for the coming fiscal year or had not paid their previous years commitment.

            Nov 23, 1930 Session appropriates funds for each family to receive A Year With the Bible. Also approved The Accousticon Company to install an accounsticon (a horn shaped hearing device for the hard of hearing) for five weeks of free use. The device cost $100 and each receiver cost $25. Three weeks later this order was postponed.

March 31, 1931 Jean Meredith Fisk joined the church by confession of faith, along with 13 other students from the confirmation class.

On Jan 4, 1932 the Great Depression was having a deep impact on the congregation. Session voted to restrict the heating of the church buildings to Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays in order to economize the church expenses. Also in that meeting there was a motion to cut all salaries paid by the church by ten percent but the motion lost.

On March 7 Session voted to appropriate $30.00 from the Relief Fund for food and fuel for one of the church families.

In the 30s much emphasis was placed on the churchs members being in attendance of the services. Absentee persons were voted onto the suspended roll if they did not attend or subscribe (pledge). If one did not attend or subscribe, he was asked to take his letter to another church or risk being put on the suspended roll. In the early 30s church continued to take in new members each year though not at the rate of the early 20s.

On 4/8/32 the church budget was cut from $7258 to $6000 per year.

In June 1932 the funeral parlor Wannamaker and Carlough offered t give the church free calendars that contained their own advertising but the Session politely declined the offer.

In 1932 there was controversy in the community about the showing of movies in town. Church leaders felt that Sunday evening movies would detract from the Sunday evening services and the churches protestant churches met to discuss how to oppose it.  No results of this effort are recoded in the minutes.

On January 4, 1933 Session had a discussion of some length of the power of prayer and the great need in these trying times of religion as well as economic dislocation. A general discussion of church problems followed.

On April 27, 1933 Session voted to close the auditorium (sanctuary) October 1- April 1 except for Easter and Christmas, that heat be supplied to the other buildings only Sat- Mon, and that the church expenses be cut to $5000/year. 

Oct 15, 1933 voted to participate in a Spiritual Recovery Crusade

Frank A. Green was one of 16 teenagers who joined the church by confession of faith on March 24, 1934. 

George Van Inwegan and Robert J. Campbell (Nancys  and James brother?) also joined in this year. Allen Kemp did George Van Inwegan and James Campbells funerals. 

Sept 16, 1936 Session voted to invite someone to speak on Mormonism on a Sunday morning in Oct.

            ER Suffern rotated off Session May 13,1934. He was not re-elected by the congregation in a ballot of 4 nominees for 3 openings.  His name does not come back up in any minutes from then on. All that is recorded is that he transferred his membership to the Spring Valley Reformed Church. His son Dicks transfer is recorded 10 years later. 

Personal notes from this author, not to be included in the Centennial booklet:

            According to Pastor Ned Suffern Dr. ER Suffern left our church to go to the RCA church because Session refused to discipline a woman Sunday School teacher in our church who was having a notorious affair with a man in the community. Ned Suffern reported that his grandfather went on record as a fundamentalist in those days, as opposed to the modernists. This generally meant that he believed in the five fundamentals of the faith whereas the modernists supposedly did not. The fundamentals included belief in the infallibility of Scripture, the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the virgin birth. The RCA as a denomination is more conservative than the PCUSA. 

            Several concerns lead this author to believe that Rev. Watts was not nearly as evangelical in his theology as his Rev. Campbell, Killborne, or Jung (his successor). 1. The fact that he went to Union Seminary in NY means a lot. Union Seminary split from Princeton Seminary in those days because it did not believe the Bible to be literally true and the Presbyterian Church as a denomination disavowed it, even though the PCUSA was to go this route itself in the future. 2. The Christian Endeavor Societies almost immediately loose their emphasis when Watts comes to the church in favor of Scouting.  CE was strongly evangelical in its ministry. 3. One does not see nearly the emphasis on evangelism and prayer in the Session minutes as under the above listed pastors but Watts did emphasize giving to missions. However, when one reads the message on the cover of the yearly bulletin for the every member canvass, there is good emphasis on prayer, Scripture, and the work of ministry.

             The failure to discipline the above mentioned teacher is very significant, even if it was a matter of Rev. Watts himself perhaps wanting to do something about it but being unable to because of the persons on Session at the time. Gardner recalled his father as a modernist within reason, meaning that he was not a controversial modernist but neither a fundamentalist.    

            On April 12, 1934 the Pastors salary held in abeyance, salary reduced to $2374. Van Allen Clark, son in law of David McConnell, who succeeded Mr. McConnell as president of Avon Products and President and Chairman of the Board of Suffern National Bank, was chairman of the Board of Trustees for SPC in this time. He personally sought to reduce the pastors salary and when the congregation refused and voted a minority budget 64-46, he resigned as chair of the Board of Trustees along the Treasurer.  This author wonders why, when a man of such financial means, even though the Great Depression is at its height, would not intervene to assist the pastor and family. It is very sad to note that just two weeks before Rev. Watts last day as pastor, when he resigns due to the fact that he cannot properly care for his family on such a low salary, Session voted to appropriate funds to the widow of a another pastor in the Presbytery to supplement her salary. Also, in May 1936 when Rev. Watts makes his announcement about not being able to live on the salary, the Trustees voted to spend $500 to purchase a new boiler, when the total budget was $3194.

            Mrs. Jean Forsberg remembered these days and once told this author that Mr. McConnell starved him out.   Jean Forsberg shared that her father, Irving Fisk, was very close to Rev. Watts as well as a Mr. Artis Cleght who lived in the large white house on Washington Ave at the end of Boulevard. Jean said that Henry was a very good preacher, a man of God, but the people crucified him. He preached long sermons, deeply theological sermons. Jean referred to Mr. McConnell as a wealthy, worldly minded man. He wanted short, breezy sermons. Gardner Watts recalled that Mr. McConnell had his own pew in the church, third row back on the right hand side. He would sit there while his chauffer waited outside until the service was over. One could imagine the disdain if the service went over time.  

            Jean recalled that many of the Avon people she said, banded together and starved him out.  The manse became dilapidated and no one bothered to fix it up.  A Mr. John Williams and the whole Avon crowd one day just left the church, intentionally to hurt the church financially. Gardner did not recall this but said that McConnells giving accounted for half of the churchs annual budget and that when he was an older man, in the last years of Watts ministry, his family tried to keep him from giving so much money to the church.

            There seems to have been a significant power struggle during these days as to who would be on Session. Remember, a system of rotating elders (not trustees, they continued to succeed themselves) was approved in 1923 where no elder was to serve more than two consecutive three year terms. This was held to for a decade, but after Irving Fisk had died, and many in the congregation were in significant conflict with the pastor, the rules were broken for Mr. McConnell. In April 1930 McConnels term as elder expired and he was reelected. He was re-elected again in 1933 and elected again and again on May 10, 1936.  On May 6, Rev. Watts had announced to the congregation in writing his intention to resign the pastorate due to extreme financial difficulties his family was experiencing because his salary had been cut from $3000 to less than $2100. The church was facing a financial shortfall of $1000 and he believed his already lowered salary was in jeopardy. Rev. Watts reported that he had tried to obtain a new pastorate but that due to the economic situation there were hundreds of applicants for every vacant pulpit in America at that time.  Rev. Watts last day as pastor was January 31, 1937. How ironic it is that Mr. McConnell died on January 20, 1937.

            These were dark times in the history of our church. Jean Forsberg reported that in the time period of 1939-1940 only about 3-4 families were left in the church but God was faithful. With the coming of Rev. Wendell Jung new life seemed to come into the church and there was a clear, new emphasis on prayer and evangelism. What is strange is how the budget immediately goes up the next year. Was there a return of absent members? Did the economy improve? Or were certain members intentionally withholding their giving during Watts last months?

            12/5/37 Session voted to permit the Suffern Gospel Mission to use the Sunday School room.

            Both Frank Osborn and David McConnell died right around the time of Watts resignation. The congregation voted to hold their positions on Session as vacant for a year after their deaths.

            During the time of the deepest financial stress for the congregation, Session was sending letters and visiting the congregation 3-4 times a year to encourage people to continue in their subscriptions

            In April of 1937, like during many winters in the 30s Session voted to purchase a ton of coal for a needy family in the congregation, using money from the Relief Fund. 

            Sept 1937 Scouts requested use of the Chapel for their meetings, initially refused but then given probationary use. From Trustees records, it is noted that lights were broken and other damage occurred and the Scouts were moved back to the basement.

            On October 10, 1937 the congregation voted to elect Rev. Wendell Jung as pastor. His salary was set $2200 and an overall church budget of $4829 was approved.

Dec 1937 the Suffern Gospel Mission was given permission to use Sunday School rooms for their annual meeting.

            Christmas offering this year and for several years was used to defray the expenses of the childrens and adults Christmas parties in the church (note- not used for ministry like sending kids to summer camps like the Easter offering).

            Jan 1938 Session endorsed public missionary speaking to be held in SPC the next month. Also, the Friday night preceding every Communion is to be designated as a preparatory night for Communion.

            Also there was move to hold meetings with the Epis and Meth Churches in 3 public meetings in order that the community may be made more church conscious.

            The first Sunday in February was designated as Scout Sunday with the Scouts invited to attend and participate in the service.

Ed. note Session is recording a lot more missions and ministry happenings now. It is unknown that whether this is due to new pastor and more ministry or change in reporting methods of clerk.

            3/16/38 Session voted that it will not uphold any project in the name of the church which project is carried out in the nature of chance or a gamble.

            On April 10, 1938 there were on record 356 members of the church, 137 total in the Sunday School.

            A new member was received by transfer from a West New Hempstead Reformed Church of Monsey.

            5/8/38 At the congregation meeting held on a Sunday morning, 60 ballots were cast for electing elders. Note, only 60 when the membership is 356?

            From August 7- Sept 4 1938 the church was closed and we held union services with Meth and Epis chs. Helen Fisk was hired as organist June 10, 1938.

            June 12, 1938 Amour Galbraith joined the church by profession of faith, along with 7 other adults of whom several were unbaptized. Maida Galbraith joined by transfer of membership from the First Christian Church of Sioux City, Iowa.

            9/14/39 Voted to approve World Wide Communion for Oct. 2.

            11/3/38 voted to hold a Thanksgiving Service and to invite the other Prost Chs. It they come, the offering will go to the hospital. If not, offering goes to Session Relief Fund. Meeting closed in prayer for the success and advancement of the Kingdom here in our midst.

            11/16/38 Session went on record appreciating the services of the organist in deepening the worship of our congregation. A letter stating such went to Miss Helen Fisk.

            2/26/39 Session approves and gives its official sanction to attend the brotherhood meeting of Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant faiths to be held in the high school.  Also approved the World Day of Prayer to be held at Meth ch.

            Session sent letter to Congressman stating it is against having ministerial employees come under the Social Security Act.

            3/22/39 voted to fill the vacancy left by McConnell and Osborn, class of 38-41 cannot succeed itself unless lapse of one year.

            May 24, 1939 there is a beautiful letter written to the widow the Rector from Christ Church Epis who passed away.

            A vote on the maintenance of the pastorate kept getting postponed. ?

            9/14/39 voted to hold meetings to address Lay Evangelism Also rededicated the organ and sanctuary.

            3 Scout troops to use junior room or dining room for all future meetings.        

            Nov. 15, 1939 voted to participate in a county wide exchange of ministers for Dec. 10

            Church was facing a financial deficit of $330.

12/3/39 Vivien Dimms baptism approved, husband Walter joined by transfer.

            3/20/40 Ira Wickes joined the church as teenager

1939-40 Easter offering no longer going to summer camp scholarships.

            4/9/40 at annual meeting reported there was $7316 in the rehabilitation fund and had spent $7153. This was for repairing and decorating the church property. Ward Brothers donated the concrete for the basement recreation room floor.

            Membership in April 1939 was 287, now 313. Took in 33 new members in one year.

            SS has 136.

Ed.  analysis: Watts resigned in Jan 37 because of no money but by April 1939 cong reports they have cash on hand of $3776 for doing church repairs. This was more than the whole budget in 1937.  Jung records a loss of membership in 1938 but in April 39 287 members, year later, 356. 70 members were taken off the roll but 30 were added in 1939, so April 1940 membership was 313. 1941, 321 members. In Watts last years the annual reports did not have membership figures nor attendance of societies or groups, nor financial figures for the groups.

            4/17/40 voted to supplement funds for sending youth to Pres youth conference.

The congregation approved forming and using a nominating committee for electing elders and deacons. (Note how this new method encouraged by the denomination is resisted in vote for new pastor when Rudy Wissler is elected.)

            May 1940 cong finalized the the vote on having one year of ineligibility for elders ager one three year term.

            6/19/40 voted to keep the church open all summer, pastor can take 4 weeks vacation any time of year. Endorsed Good Friday service held by Ramapo Federation of Churches and Ministers. This was second year of Lenten suppers.

            Voted to purchase 50 copies of Presbyterian devotional. Note, purchasing of magazines and devotionals for the members had stopped several years previous.

            11/17/40 President of Bloomfield College spoke here.

            3/19/41 Voted to have Good Friday service with others chs in Lafayette Theater

April youth group called Young Peoples Fellowship.

            April 1941 321 members, 490 pastoral calls and sick calls

            Sun May 25, 1941 The Lodge Daughters of America will attend Sun service.

            June 18, 1941 Mrs. Helen Singleton hired as organist for 10 months at $350. 9/17/41 Mrs. Helen Fisk Hollister transferred to Stony Point Presbyterian.

            Voted to buy stamped envelopes to send bulletins to absent from the service and to out of town members.        

            11/18/41 Building fund receipts of $9615, disbursements of $9082.

            December 17, 1941 is first mention of World War 2. Session authorized the pastor to purchase Westminster Kits to send to Young men of the church who are in our countrys service. Voted to have an evening service of Education for the men of the church on the needs of men in the service. Also voted to send Christmas cards to church men in service.

            9/16/42 employed both an organist and choir director.

            There was discussion on purchasing a plaque for honor roll of the servicemen and some funds were raised but it never got done due perhaps to controversy over what types of services qualified for the honor.

            Voted to send the servicemen week calendars to help them keep in touch. Each church was asked to raise 3% of its overall budget for War Time Service Commission.

            11/18/42 voted to approve Robert. H. Duvall to come under care of Presbytery and to study for the ministry.

            11/42 Boy Scout troop 21 reorganized with Ira Wickes Sr. as Scout Master.

            12/16/42 dismissed a woman to a Unitarian church in PA.

3/8/43 Session approved youth to use the church basement for dancing, games, refreshments on some Sat evenings, pastor and his wife to chaperone.

            1940-43 church membership grows by 12-15 each year.

            At annual meeting May 16, 1943 Pastor Jung encouraged members to get involved in writing SPC servicemen.

            He urged 4 things in his message at the meeting:

1.      More personal devotion

2.      More Bible reading and personal prayer.

3.      More attendance at Divine Worship

4.      More community interest in the non-churched of Suffern.

6/2/43 voted to close the church for all of August through first week of Sept. Members urged to attend Epis church (same for 1944).

7/4/43 Jung granted leave of absence of one month to serve as Camp Pastor in war work at Fort Fisher, NC, under the auspices of War Time Service Commission.

            On October 3, 1943 in a meeting of Session held before the worship service, Rev. Jung read a letter from Chaplain Homer O. Baker, Baptist Church South, asking that Private Julian Whitehead of Orange Avenue Suffern, now in North Africa, age 24, and baptized by him in the Mediterranean Sea by immersion be received into the membership in our church. Motion passed unanimously that he be received in absentia.

            2/9/44 Rev. Jung announced he has received a call to Third Presbyterian Church in Trenton, NJ. April 15 is to be his last Sunday.

            There was a Presbyterian Church of Ramapo Works in Hillburn in 1944.

            On 4/15/44 meeting of congregation, 35 new members for the year, 361 total membership, 24 infant baptism.

5/15/44 Pulpit Vacancy and Supply Committee reported to Session ready to recommend Rudolph Herr Wissler of Goshen, NY to candidate as pastor, to preach on May 21. It took the committee only three months work to find Rudy. Maida Galbraith was on this committee. Congregation voted a salary of $2500 a year and to increase this salary as a share in the prosperity of the church.  In a Sunday morning meeting of the congregation he was elected by vote of 76-2 with the negative votes coming from members who insisted that the committee not follow the new procedure required by Presbytery of nominating just one candidate but instead these two members wanted multiple candidates to preach and to let the congregation decide.

            May 24, 1944 Mr. Richard Suffern requested his membership be transferred to the Spring Valley Reformed Church (note, this is 10 years after his father was not re-elected an elder.)

            Rudy Wissler started his duties on July 1, 1944 and was installed on July 11. On April 16, 1945 at the annual meeting of the congregation, 399 members, 110 enrolled in SS with an average attendance of 100.

12/4/45 Decided to have a midnight Christmas Eve service. 
Session wrote letter to Greene family thanking them for the memorial gift of purchasing the Electronic Tower Amplifying Service in memory of their son Frank Green who was killed in action in Germany.  In March 1946 session purchased 10 records for the Tower Amp System from a Bill Morrison Recording in Aurora, CO for $22.50.           

Other notes:

Notes about the building.

Wissler Room used to be divided into two parlors. One of these was called the Ladies Parlor in 1920, the side by the fire place.

October 14, 1929 heard a proposed gift of memorial windows  (probably the church foyer)

November 11, 1929 The trustees did not seem too enthused over the plan to remodel the basement at the present time. Note, the stock market crashed the previous month. Though a committee had been at work for several months to propose new plans, this work got postponed for a number of years.

Session wrote to Mrs. I.A. Fisk and Mr. and Mrs. Ian Burgert expressing appreciation for their gifts to the church of the hymn boards and the windows and doors.

9/14/30 Session addressed the acoustical problem in the sanctuary and requested the Trustees address it by completing the floor and cushioning pews as a solution. They also addressed the question of lighting in the choir loft.